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Italy's PM in talks over future Italy's Prodi to risk Senate vote
(20 minutes later)
Embattled Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has begun a series of crisis talks ahead of a confidence vote at the Senate that he is expected to lose. Embattled Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is to risk a confidence vote in the Senate despite calls for him to resign, media reports say.
He met President Giorgio Napolitano on Thursday, the second time in 24 hours, after coming under pressure to resign. Mr Prodi had been advised by President Giorgio Napolitano to avoid the vote, which he is in danger of losing.
Mr Prodi won a confidence vote in the lower house on Wednesday, but is expected to lose the Senate vote later. Mr Prodi held crisis talks with Mr Napolitano after the crucial desertion of a small party in his coalition.
A small party in Mr Prodi's coalition has deserted him, handing his Senate majority to the opposition. He won a confidence vote in the lower house on Wednesday, but he has lost his Senate majority.
At Wednesday's meeting, Mr Napolitano is reported to have advised him to consider resigning instead of going ahead with Thursday's Senate vote at 2000 local time (1900GMT). When Mr Prodi met Mr Napolitano on Wednesday, the president is reported to have advised him to consider resigning instead of going ahead with Thursday's Senate vote at 2000 local time (1900GMT).
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says there is speculation Mr Prodi will tender his resignation to the president after meeting members of his cabinet later. But at a follow-up meeting on Thursday, Mr Prodi told the president he would go ahead with the vote, according to Italian media reports.
Berlusconi's boon?Berlusconi's boon?
The crisis was sparked by the withdrawal on Monday of the centrist Udeur party - with its three seats - from Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, costing the prime minister his Senate advantage of two.The crisis was sparked by the withdrawal on Monday of the centrist Udeur party - with its three seats - from Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, costing the prime minister his Senate advantage of two.
The party pulled out, citing a lack of support for its leader, the former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, who resigned after being named in a corruption probe. He maintains that he is innocent.The party pulled out, citing a lack of support for its leader, the former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, who resigned after being named in a corruption probe. He maintains that he is innocent.
Polls suggest a snap election could see a Silvio Berlusconi comebackPolls suggest a snap election could see a Silvio Berlusconi comeback
The embattled 68-year-old premier won Wednesday's Chamber of Deputies vote by 326 votes to 275.The embattled 68-year-old premier won Wednesday's Chamber of Deputies vote by 326 votes to 275.
But his hopes of mustering enough support to carry the Senate and save his 20-month-old centre-left coalition look increasingly forlorn, analysts say.But his hopes of mustering enough support to carry the Senate and save his 20-month-old centre-left coalition look increasingly forlorn, analysts say.
Silvio Berlusconi, a conservative former prime minister who was defeated by Mr Prodi in 2006 elections, wants to see the premier defeated in the Senate.Silvio Berlusconi, a conservative former prime minister who was defeated by Mr Prodi in 2006 elections, wants to see the premier defeated in the Senate.
This would trigger calls for snap elections, which polls suggest Mr Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party could win comfortably, our correspondent says.This would trigger calls for snap elections, which polls suggest Mr Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party could win comfortably, our correspondent says.
If Mr Prodi does resign, the president will decide the way forward for the political process.
He would have to consult party leaders and there is growing consensus across opposition lines that before any election can be held, the electoral laws must be changed again.
Our correspondent says Mr Napolitano could ask Mr Prodi to form a new coalition but it is much more likely he will appoint a caretaker government or a grand coalition to oversee the badly-needed electoral reforms.