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Silvio Berlusconi's party rebels in Italian Senate | Silvio Berlusconi's party rebels in Italian Senate |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi's party has abstained from a confidence vote in the Senate, sparking warnings of a political crisis. | Former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi's party has abstained from a confidence vote in the Senate, sparking warnings of a political crisis. |
Prime Minister Mario Monti's government won the vote, and it was not clear if the PDL party would repeat its rebellion in the lower house later. | |
Mr Berlusconi earlier hinted he might run again in elections next year. | Mr Berlusconi earlier hinted he might run again in elections next year. |
President Giorgio Napolitano said he wanted to avoid a "turbulent" end to Mr Monti's technocratic government. | President Giorgio Napolitano said he wanted to avoid a "turbulent" end to Mr Monti's technocratic government. |
Mr Monti replaced Mr Berlusconi as prime minster just over a year ago, and launched a programme of reforms aimed at pulling Italy out of economic crisis. | Mr Monti replaced Mr Berlusconi as prime minster just over a year ago, and launched a programme of reforms aimed at pulling Italy out of economic crisis. |
Markets reacted nervously to the fresh political tension, with the Milan stock market dipping and the difference in premiums demanded by investors to buy Italian rather than German 10-year bonds widening. | Markets reacted nervously to the fresh political tension, with the Milan stock market dipping and the difference in premiums demanded by investors to buy Italian rather than German 10-year bonds widening. |
Fabrizio Cicchitto, the leader of the centre-right People of Liberty (PDL) in the lower house, said the party abstained from the vote "to show our strongly critical view of their economic policies". | Fabrizio Cicchitto, the leader of the centre-right People of Liberty (PDL) in the lower house, said the party abstained from the vote "to show our strongly critical view of their economic policies". |
But he later indicated that the PDL would not attempt to bring down the government. | |
"We will do our duty to the utmost to... allow the chamber to operate," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | |
Berlusconi comeback? | |
After the Senate vote, the centre-left raised the prospect of elections being called before the expected date in March 2013. | |
"We have to understand if it was an abstention on a single vote or a broader political abstention," said Democratic Party (PD) leader Pier Luigi Bersani. | "We have to understand if it was an abstention on a single vote or a broader political abstention," said Democratic Party (PD) leader Pier Luigi Bersani. |
But President Napolitano said there was no need for the government to fall. | |
"There are pre-electoral political tensions that even outside Italy can be understood without causing alarm about the institutional strength of our country," he said. | |
Recent opinion polls suggest that the PD currently has a comfortable lead over the PDL. | |
Mr Berlusconi, 76, appeared on Wednesday to be rowing back on statements that he would not run in 2013. | Mr Berlusconi, 76, appeared on Wednesday to be rowing back on statements that he would not run in 2013. |
"I am being assailed by requests to return to the field as soon as possible," he said after a meeting of party leaders. | "I am being assailed by requests to return to the field as soon as possible," he said after a meeting of party leaders. |
"Italy today is on the edge of a cliff. I cannot allow this," he said, claiming that the situation now was "far worse than when I left office last year". | "Italy today is on the edge of a cliff. I cannot allow this," he said, claiming that the situation now was "far worse than when I left office last year". |
In response, economic development minister Corrado Passera said it would not be good for Italy's image abroad "to go back". | |
"We need to give the sensation that the country is moving ahead," Mr Passera said. | "We need to give the sensation that the country is moving ahead," Mr Passera said. |
Prime Minister Monti defended the government's record on Thursday, saying it had largely succeeded in putting the country in a safe position and "preventing Italy from causing new fires in the Eurozone". |