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Italy crisis: PM Letta wins vote after Berlusconi U-turn Italy crisis: PM Letta wins vote after Berlusconi U-turn
(34 minutes later)
Italian Premier Enrico Letta has won a confidence vote after a last-minute U-turn by former PM Silvio Berlusconi.Italian Premier Enrico Letta has won a confidence vote after a last-minute U-turn by former PM Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi had initially demanded that five ministers from his centre-right People of Freedom party (PDL) leave the government, prompting the vote. Berlusconi had initially promised to topple the government by withdrawing his party's support - a move which prompted the Senate vote.
But he backed down when 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.
Mr 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 a "fatal risk" for Italy.
In the event he won easily: the Senate voted 235 to 70 in favour of the government.
About a dozen of Berlusconi's most hardline followers left the chamber and did not vote at all.
'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. Over the weekend, Berlusconi demanded that five ministers from his centre-right People of Freedom party (PDL) leave the government and bring it down.
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. But some of his closest colleagues said they would defy him, and the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says it gradually became clear that Berlusconi had badly overreached himself.
Our correspondent says the 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.''
'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.
A Senate committee will vote on whether to expel Berlusconi because of his conviction later this week.A Senate committee will vote on whether to expel Berlusconi because of his conviction later this week.
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. Berlusconi ordered his 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.
But the prime minister accused Berlusconi of using the VAT issue as an "alibi" for his own personal concerns.But the prime minister accused Berlusconi of using the VAT 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.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.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.