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Italy’s Premier Pleads With Lawmakers to Save Coalition Berlusconi Backs Down on Threat to Topple Government
(35 minutes later)
ROME — Prime Minister Enrico Letta of Italy made a passionate plea Wednesday morning to save his fragile coalition government, warning lawmakers that political instability could send the country into a deeper economic crisis and imploring them to show the rest of Europe that Italy is ready to tackle difficult but necessary reforms. ROME — In a startling move, a shaken Silvio Berlusconi stood before Italy’s Senate on Wednesday and announced that his center-right party would support the fragile coalition government, a dramatic reversal after the former prime minister had spent days vowing to bring down the government and force new elections.
Mr. Letta’s speech came as his government faced a confidence vote later Wednesday in the Parliament, following a crisis that erupted last week after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ordered his party’s government ministers to resign from the shaky coalition. Mr. Berlusconi, facing serious legal problems and a prison sentence, called for fresh elections, hoping that he might be returned to power. Standing in the ornate chamber, Mr. Berlusconi announced that members of his People of Freedom Party would vote in favor of the government in a confidence.
But Mr. Berlusconi, who has dominated Italy’s center-right for two decades, has since been confronted with an unexpected rebellion among many legislators in his party, with some saying publicly they would vote in support of Mr. Letta’s government. By Wednesday morning, Mr. Berlusconi also seemed to be wavering in his demands, with Reuters reporting that he was now considering reversing himself and supporting Mr. Letta. “Putting together the expectations and the fact that Italy needs a government that produces institutional and structural reforms, we have decided to vote for the confidence motion, not without internal pain,” Mr. Berlusconi said.
Usually regarded as bookish and uncharismatic, Mr. Letta held center stage on Wednesday morning as he spoke for more than 30 minutes on national television. Mr. Letta’s government was midwifed into existence five months ago by Italy’s president, Giorgio Napolitano, after inconclusive national elections. It is an awkward marriage of Italy’s center-left and the center-right, led by Mr. Berlusconi. His appearance came after a wrenching 24 hours in which many of his key lieutenants had rejected his push to topple the coalition government led by Prime Minister Enrico Letta. Earlier in the day, Mr. Letta made a passionate plea on behalf of his coalition, warning lawmakers that political instability could plunge the country into a deeper economic crisis and imploring them to show the rest of Europe that Italy is ready to tackle difficult reforms.
In his speech, Mr. Letta argued that the credibility of Italy’s political class was now at stake, not only with Italian citizens, but with other Europeans, who fear that political instability in Rome could bring problems elsewhere in the euro zone. He noted that the period when the Italian republic enjoyed political stability — from 1947 to 1968 — also coincided with an era of rapid economic growth and public optimism. Mr. Letta had called for the confidence vote in response to a crisis sparked last week when Mr. Berlusconi ordered his party’s government ministers to resign from the coalition. Facing serious legal problems and a prison term, Mr. Berlusconi had calculated that forcing fresh elections might provide him with new political life.
Mr. Letta argued that with a new Europe emerging out of the euro crisis, Italy could not remain in a “bunker” of petty, partisan politics but instead needed a stable, collaborative government to tackle structural reforms on election laws and financial issues. But Mr. Berlusconi, who has dominated Italy’s center-right for two decades, was confronted with an unexpected rebellion among many lawmakers in his party, with some saying publicly they would vote in support of Mr. Letta’s government. Earlier in the day, there had been reports that the center-right would split, though it was unclear if Mr. Berlusconi’s surprise announcement could hold the party together.
His party had held an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning and initial reports from the discussions suggested that Mr. Berlusconi would maintain his opposition to Mr. Letta’s government. Mr. Berlusconi’s recent tax fraud conviction resulted in a one-year prison sentence which is to begin on Oct. 15, probably under house arrest. A court in Milan is expected to rule on how long he will be banned from public office.
A commission of the Italian Senate will resume deliberation on Friday whether to strip him of his current Senate seat.
The day began with Mr. Letta making a 46-minute address to the Italian Senate that was broadcast on national television. Mr. Letta’s government was midwifed into existence five months ago by Italy’s president, Giorgio Napolitano, after inconclusive national elections. It was an awkward marriage of Italy’s center-left and the center-right, led by Mr. Berlusconi.
In his speech, Mr. Letta argued that the credibility of Italy’s political class was at stake, not only with Italian citizens, but with other Europeans, who fear that political instability in Rome could bring problems elsewhere in the euro zone. He noted that the period when the Italian republic enjoyed political stability — from 1947 to 1968 — also coincided with an era or rapid economic growth and public optimism.
Now, Mr. Letta argued, a new Europe is being formed out of the euro crisis and Italy could not remain in a “bunker” of petty, partisan politics. The country, he said, needed a stable, collaborative government to tackle structural reforms on election laws and financial issues.
“The Europe of the next 15 years is being formed now,” he said. “We can’t confront this with an absence of leadership.”“The Europe of the next 15 years is being formed now,” he said. “We can’t confront this with an absence of leadership.”
The biggest question is what Mr. Berlusconi’s followers will do. Mr. Berlusconi’s recent tax fraud conviction has placed his long political career in a dire position. He is to begin serving a one-year prison sentence on Oct. 15, probably under house arrest. A court in Milan is soon expected to rule on how many years he will be banned from seeking public office because of the tax conviction. And a commission of the Italian Senate will resume deliberations on Friday to strip him of his current Senate seat. T
Late Tuesday night, many members of Mr. Berlusconi’s People of Freedom Party were speaking openly of rejecting his call to bring down the government, calling it irresponsible. But late in the evening, it seemed uncertain whether they would revolt against the man to whom many owed their political careers. Parliament is expected to complete the confidence vote Wednesday afternoon. The Senate will vote first after a round of speeches by legislators and a rebuttal by the prime minister. Mr. Letta will then face a second confidence vote in the lower house where he has a broad majority even without the votes of Mr. Berlusconi’s party.
Parliament is expected to complete the confidence vote by Wednesday afternoon. The Senate will vote first after a round of speeches by legislators and a rebuttal by the prime minister. Mr. Letta will then face a second confidence vote in the lower house where he has a broad majority even without the votes of Mr. Berlusconi’s party.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.