This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/6383051.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Italy government loses key vote | Italy government loses key vote |
(30 minutes later) | |
The Italian government has lost a key vote in its upper house of parliament on the country's foreign policy. | The Italian government has lost a key vote in its upper house of parliament on the country's foreign policy. |
The Senate, where Prime Minister Romano Prodi's coalition holds a one-seat majority, voted against the government, prompting calls for its resignation. | The Senate, where Prime Minister Romano Prodi's coalition holds a one-seat majority, voted against the government, prompting calls for its resignation. |
Italy's foreign minister had said that the government should step down if the motion was not approved, saying it was a crucial test of government unity. | |
Coalition leaders are holding crisis talks in the prime minister's office. | |
Dramatic scenes | |
The announcement of the result was met by shouts of "resign! resign!" by right-wing senators. The sitting was suspended shortly afterwards. | |
Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged senators to approve the motion, saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage. | Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged senators to approve the motion, saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage. |
To be consistent, the government must now resign Senator Roberto Calderoli | |
"I say it loud and clear, this is what we need [...] and we are asked here to request this consensus." | "I say it loud and clear, this is what we need [...] and we are asked here to request this consensus." |
The motion asked the senate to approve the government's foreign policy, a policy which it said was inspired by a repudiation of war and respect for the role of the EU, UN and international alliances. | |
A large number of senators decided to abstain from the vote. | |
"To be consistent, the government must now resign," opposition senator Roberto Calderoli said after the result. | |
Double trouble | |
Analysts say that the outcome reveals the fragility of Mr Prodi's grip on power, coming just weeks after two Communist and one Green minister walked out of a cabinet vote on Afghanistan. | Analysts say that the outcome reveals the fragility of Mr Prodi's grip on power, coming just weeks after two Communist and one Green minister walked out of a cabinet vote on Afghanistan. |
The twin issues of the continued funding of troop deployment in Afghanistan, where Italy has some 1,900 soldiers, and the expansion of a US airbase in the north-eastern city of Vicenza have sparked fierce debate in Italy. | |
Last week, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Vicenza in protest at the plans, which were approved by Mr Prodi's predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. |