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Italy crisis: Berlusconi U-turn on confidence vote Italy crisis: PM Letta wins vote after Berlusconi U-turn
(about 1 hour later)
Ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi has performed a U-turn in an Italian confidence vote and says he will now support the government. Italian Premier Enrico Letta has won a confidence vote after a last-minute U-turn by former PM Silvio Berlusconi.
It was Berlusconi's demand that five ministers from his centre-right People of Freedom party (PDL) leave the government that had prompted the vote. Berlusconi had initially demanded that five ministers from his centre-right People of Freedom party (PDL) leave the government, prompting the vote.
But it became clear that several of his senators would back the government. But he backed down when it became clear that several of his senators would back the government.
PM Enrico Letta had earlier said that if he were defeated in the vote, it might prove fatal for Italy. Mr Letta had earlier said that if he were defeated in the vote, it might prove fatal for Italy.
'Internal strife''Internal strife'
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says senior figures in Berlusconi's party had indicated they would not support him and it was clear he had badly overreached himself.The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says senior figures in Berlusconi's party had indicated they would not support him and it was clear he had badly overreached himself.
Our correspondent says Berlusconi has been forced into a humiliating climbdown and will emerge a weakened figure, with his capacity to influence Italian politics diminished. Our correspondent says Berlusconi, a three-time prime-minister, has been forced into a humiliating climb-down and will emerge a weakened figure with his capacity to influence Italian politics diminished.
When he finally rose to speak in the Senate, Berlusconi said: "Italy needs a government that can produce structural and institutional reforms. We have decided, not without internal strife, to back the confidence vote."When he finally rose to speak in the Senate, Berlusconi said: "Italy needs a government that can produce structural and institutional reforms. We have decided, not without internal strife, to back the confidence vote."
In his address to the Senate, Mr Letta had defended his government's performance and said Italy "runs a risk, a fatal risk" if it were to fall.In his address to the Senate, Mr Letta had defended his government's performance and said Italy "runs a risk, a fatal risk" if it were to fall.
He said: "Give us your confidence to realise [our] objectives. Give us your confidence for all that has been accomplished... a confidence vote for Italy and Italians.''He said: "Give us your confidence to realise [our] objectives. Give us your confidence for all that has been accomplished... a confidence vote for Italy and Italians.''
Mr Letta had needed 161 votes in the Senate but could only count on the support of about 137 members, meaning he needed about 25 votes from others.
The Senate vote is yet to take place and a further vote will be needed in the chamber of deputies later. However, Mr Letta has a majority there.
Italian media say a majority of senators at a PDL gathering had voted in favour of opposing the government but it became clear that a group of about 25 dissidents would help give Mr Letta the numbers he needed.
'Alibi''Alibi'
Berlusconi had accused Mr Letta of allowing his "political assassination through judicial means" - a reference to Berlusconi's criminal conviction for tax fraud in August.Berlusconi had accused Mr Letta of allowing his "political assassination through judicial means" - a reference to Berlusconi's criminal conviction for tax fraud in August.
But Mr Letta refused to accept the resignation of the five PDL ministers and called the vote of confidence. A Senate committee will vote on whether to expel Berlusconi because of his conviction later this week.
Berlusconi's plan to bring the government down began to unravel when his deputy and party secretary, Angelino Alfano, said that PDL MPs should back Mr Letta. Berlusconi ordered his five ministers to leave the government, ostensibly not because of the attempts to throw him out of the Senate but because he opposed an impending rise in VAT.
Mr Alfano's comments had caused the Italian stock market to jump on Tuesday as investors appeared increasingly confident that the government would not fall. But the prime minister accused Berlusconi of using the VAT issue as an "alibi" for his own personal concerns.
The prime minister accused Berlusconi of using the issue as an "alibi" for his own personal concerns. He refused to accept the resignation of the five PDL ministers and called the vote of confidence.
Berlusconi's plan to bring the government down began to unravel when the ministers signalled their own unwillingness to leave the government, and his deputy and party secretary, Angelino Alfano, said that PDL MPs should back Mr Letta.
Analysts say the crisis threatened to hamper badly needed reforms to tackle Italy's economic problems that include debt, recession and high youth unemployment.Analysts say the crisis threatened to hamper badly needed reforms to tackle Italy's economic problems that include debt, recession and high youth unemployment.
Mr Letta's cross-party alliance was formed in April after two months of political deadlock following an inconclusive election.Mr Letta's cross-party alliance was formed in April after two months of political deadlock following an inconclusive election.
Berlusconi dominated Italian politics for nearly two decades before resigning in November 2011, in the midst of a storm over the failing economy.Berlusconi dominated Italian politics for nearly two decades before resigning in November 2011, in the midst of a storm over the failing economy.