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Italy crisis: PM Letta to go before parliament Italy crisis: PM Letta to go before parliament
(35 minutes later)
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is to go to parliament to seek a way out of the crisis engulfing his coalition government.Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is to go to parliament to seek a way out of the crisis engulfing his coalition government.
The move was announced after Mr Letta had talks with President Giorgio Napolitano. A confidence vote will be held in parliament on Wednesday.
Relations between Mr Letta's centre-left grouping and ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi's party have reached rock bottom.Relations between Mr Letta's centre-left grouping and ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi's party have reached rock bottom.
Berlusconi pulled his five ministers out of the administration on Saturday.Berlusconi pulled his five ministers out of the administration on Saturday.
But those ministers have now given mixed signals as to whether they are actually leaving the government.But those ministers have now given mixed signals as to whether they are actually leaving the government.
After meeting the PM, President Napolitano said the rebel ministers' equivocation had led to a "climate of evident uncertainty regarding possible developments". After meeting the prime minister, President Napolitano said the rebel ministers' equivocation had led to a "climate of evident uncertainty regarding possible developments".
Because of that, Mr Letta would go before parliament to see "what could be done." Because of that, Mr Letta would go before parliament to see "what could be done".
Mr Letta clearly believes his centre-left grouping still has a chance of attracting enough support in parliament to continue in government, says the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome.
President Napolitano is trying to bring about the formation of a new coalition without calling elections.President Napolitano is trying to bring about the formation of a new coalition without calling elections.
"The President of the republic dissolves the parliament only in case there is no chance of finding a pmajority and therefore a new government in the interest of the country," he said before Sunday evening's meeting. "The president of the republic dissolves the parliament only in case there is no chance of finding a majority and therefore a new government in the interest of the country," he said before Sunday evening's meeting with Mr Letta.
The crisis follows weeks of worsening ties between Berlusconi's party and Mr Letta's centre-left grouping. The crisis follows weeks of worsening ties between Berlusconi's party and Mr Letta's grouping.
The PDL is objecting to a planned increase in sales tax, which is part of wider government policy to reduce big public debts. Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) objects to a planned increase in sales tax, which is part of wider government policy to reduce big public debts.
Berlusconi had already threatened to withdraw his ministers if he was expelled from the Senate for tax fraud. But Berlusconi's legal problems had already cast a long shadow over the coalition, with the former PM threatening to undermine it if he was expelled from the Senate for tax fraud.
The current coalition government was put together after inconclusive elections in February, and the latest developments cast a further shadow over Italy's struggling economy, the eurozone's third-largest. A committee of the Senate is due to decide on his expulsion this week after the Supreme Court recently upheld his conviction.
Challenge
The current coalition government was put together after inconclusive elections in February, and the latest developments come against the background of Italy's struggling economy, the eurozone's third-largest.
It is feared that the crisis could hamper efforts to enact badly-needed reforms to tackle Italy's economic problems, including debt, recession and high youth unemployment.It is feared that the crisis could hamper efforts to enact badly-needed reforms to tackle Italy's economic problems, including debt, recession and high youth unemployment.
The International Monetary Fund has warned that coalition tensions represent a risk to the Italian economy.The International Monetary Fund has warned that coalition tensions represent a risk to the Italian economy.
'Grave violation' Mr Letta warned late on Friday that he would resign unless his coalition cabinet won a confidence vote.
Italy is now in very uncertain political terrain, and at times like this its head of state becomes a hugely important figure, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome reports. But Berlusconi pre-empted that, describing Mr Letta's comments as "unacceptable". He later said all five ministers of his PDL party were resigning.
Mr Letta, of the centre-left Democratic Party, warned late on Friday that he would quit unless his coalition cabinet won a confidence vote due next week.
But Berlusconi pre-empted that, describing Mr Letta's comments as "unacceptable". He later said all five ministers of his People of Freedom (PDL) party were resigning.
However, most of the five ministers appeared to challenge the former prime minister's order to leave the coalition.However, most of the five ministers appeared to challenge the former prime minister's order to leave the coalition.
"I thoroughly understand his state of mind, but I cannot justify or share the strategy," said health minister Beatrice Lorenzin. Reforms minister Gaetano Quagliarello and transport minister Maurizio Lupi also appeared reluctant to pull out of the cabinet. "I thoroughly understand his state of mind, but I cannot justify or share the strategy," said Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin. Reforms Minister Gaetano Quagliarello and Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi also appeared reluctant to pull out of the cabinet.
"We want to stay with Berlusconi but not his poor advisers," Mr Lupi said."We want to stay with Berlusconi but not his poor advisers," Mr Lupi said.
Enrico Letta had responded angrily to Saturday's resignations, accusing the PDL leader of telling Italians a "huge lie" in using the sales tax as an "alibi" for his own personal concerns. Mr Letta had responded angrily to Saturday's resignations, accusing the PDL leader of telling Italians a "huge lie" in using the sales tax as an "alibi" for his own personal concerns.
"In parliament, everyone will have to assume responsibility for their actions before the nation."
Berlusconi's legal problems are seen as a cause of much of the tension inside the coalition.
A committee of the Senate is due to decide this week if he should be expelled after the Supreme Court recently upheld his conviction for tax fraud.
It was his first conviction to be confirmed on appeal in two decades of fighting legal cases.
Berlusconi was sentenced to a year in jail, but is expected to serve house arrest or community service because of his age.