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Italian PM faces key Senate vote Italian PM wins key Senate vote
(30 minutes later)
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has urged senators to back him ahead of a crucial confidence vote. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has won a confidence vote in the Senate.
The move comes a week after Mr Prodi was defeated in a foreign policy vote, prompting the government to stand down. The 162-157 vote victory comes a week after senators defeated Mr Prodi on his foreign policy, prompting the government to stand down.
His coalition partners, ranging from ex-Communists to former Christian Democrats, have since closed ranks. His coalition partners, ranging from ex-Communists to former Christian Democrats, later closed ranks.
But the result is expected to be close, as the Senate is almost evenly split between the governing centre-left and the conservative opposition. But analysts say his position is still fragile as the Senate is almost evenly split between the governing centre-left and the conservative opposition.
"The coalition has reached a strong, cohesive agreement," Mr Prodi told the Senate shortly before the vote.
"We have the firm intention of moving forward."
Despite the government having only a one seat majority in the Senate, it seems that several independent senators have agreed to support Mr Prodi in Wednesday's vote, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome.
Click here to see a breakdown of seats in the SenateClick here to see a breakdown of seats in the Senate
In a speech on Tuesday, Mr Prodi acknowledged deep differences between coalition partners on Afghanistan. Before the vote, Mr Prodi told the Senate: "The coalition has reached a strong, cohesive agreement.
In a nod to the far left who have opposed the refinancing of the mission, he said the government was aware that a military presence was not the only solution to Afghanistan's problems. "We have the firm intention of moving forward."
He also avoided any references to a government plan to give legal rights to gay and unmarried couples, which have angered the Vatican and Catholic politicians in the centre.
Instead, he vowed to help families and increase job security.
Electoral reform
Mr Prodi also promised a reform of the electoral system, which has been blamed for contributing to the country's political instability by giving too much influence to small parties.
Electoral reform is "an absolute priority that needs to involve all of the political elements", he said.
After losing the foreign policy vote last week, Mr Prodi was asked to stay on by President Giorgio Napolitano.After losing the foreign policy vote last week, Mr Prodi was asked to stay on by President Giorgio Napolitano.
If he survives the vote, the prime minister is then expected to face a confidence vote on Friday in the lower house, where he has a comfortable majority. The prime minister is now expected to face a confidence vote on Friday in the lower house, where he has a comfortable majority.
If he loses, the government will have to resign, which could lead to early elections for what would be Italy's 62nd post-war government.
BALANCE OF POWER IN ITALIAN SENATE AFTER 2006 ELECTIONS Further detail of Centre-left seats (others) Italy of Values - 4 seatsPopular-UDEUR - 3 seatsThe Union - South Tyrolean People's Party - 3 seatsSouth Tyrolean People's Party - 2 seatsConsumers' List - 1 seatOlive Tree - 1 seatAutonomy Liberty Democracy - 1 seatThe Union (abroad) - 4 seatsBALANCE OF POWER IN ITALIAN SENATE AFTER 2006 ELECTIONS Further detail of Centre-left seats (others) Italy of Values - 4 seatsPopular-UDEUR - 3 seatsThe Union - South Tyrolean People's Party - 3 seatsSouth Tyrolean People's Party - 2 seatsConsumers' List - 1 seatOlive Tree - 1 seatAutonomy Liberty Democracy - 1 seatThe Union (abroad) - 4 seats
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