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| Berlusconi Backs Down on Threat to Topple Government | Berlusconi Backs Down on Threat to Topple Government |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ROME — In a startling move, a shaken Silvio Berlusconi stood before the Senate in Italy 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. | ROME — In a startling move, a shaken Silvio Berlusconi stood before the Senate in Italy 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. |
| The backing of Mr. Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party allowed the prime minister, Enrico Letta, to easily win a confidence vote in the Italian Senate Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Letta was expected to win a similar vote in the lower house of Parliament, where he commands a secure majority, later in the day. | |
| “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. | “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. |
| 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 send the country into a deeper economic crisis and imploring them to show the rest of Europe that Italy is ready to tackle difficult reforms. | 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 send the country into a deeper economic crisis and imploring them to show the rest of Europe that Italy is ready to tackle difficult reforms. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 on whether to strip him of his current Senate seat. | A commission of the Italian Senate will resume deliberation on Friday on 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. | 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 also 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. | In his speech, Mr. Letta argued that the credibility of Italy’s political class was at stake, not only with Italian citizens, but also 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. | 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.” |
Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting. | Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting. |