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Italian PM wins key Senate vote Italian PM wins key Senate vote
(10 minutes later)
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has won a confidence vote in the Senate. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has won a confidence vote in the Senate, allowing him to continue in office.
The 162-157 vote victory comes a week after senators defeated Mr Prodi on his foreign policy, prompting the government to stand down. The narrow victory - by 162-157 - came a week after senators defeated Mr Prodi on his foreign policy, prompting the centre-left government to stand down.
His coalition partners, ranging from ex-Communists to former Christian Democrats, later closed ranks. President Giorgio Napolitano had asked him to stay on and put his cabinet to a confidence vote in parliament.
But analysts say his position is still fragile as the Senate is almost evenly split between the governing centre-left and the conservative opposition. On Friday, the prime minister will face another confidence vote in lower house where he has comfortable majority.
"I am very satisfied, now we'll go to the lower house," Mr Prodi told reporters after Wednesday's vote.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says the second vote is seen as a mere formality thanks to the prime minister's larger majority in the lower house.
Click here to see a breakdown of seats in the SenateClick here to see a breakdown of seats in the Senate
Before the vote, Mr Prodi told the Senate: "The coalition has reached a strong, cohesive agreement. Mr Prodi resigned last week after nine months in office, when some members in his nine-party coalition voted against him.
"We have the firm intention of moving forward." Some left-wing partners of his coalition opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in Italy.
His supporters, ranging from ex-Communists to former Christian Democrats, later closed ranks.
But analysts say his government remains fragile as the Senate is almost evenly split between the governing centre-left and the conservative opposition.
After losing the foreign policy vote last week, Mr Prodi was asked to stay on by President Giorgio Napolitano.
The prime minister is now expected to face a confidence vote on Friday in the lower house, where he has a comfortable majority.
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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