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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Italy PM to face confidence vote | Italy PM to face confidence vote |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will face a vote of confidence in parliament following the resignation of an ally from his coalition government. | Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will face a vote of confidence in parliament following the resignation of an ally from his coalition government. |
| The vote in the Chamber of Deputies will take place on Wednesday, Green Party leader Angelo Bonelli said. | The vote in the Chamber of Deputies will take place on Wednesday, Green Party leader Angelo Bonelli said. |
| Mr Prodi had been due to brief MPs on Tuesday about the crisis, which has seen former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella withdraw from the coalition. | Mr Prodi had been due to brief MPs on Tuesday about the crisis, which has seen former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella withdraw from the coalition. |
| Mr Mastella quit last week after being implicated in a corruption inquiry. | Mr Mastella quit last week after being implicated in a corruption inquiry. |
| His centrist Udeur party also has three seats in the upper house, the Senate, and its withdrawal has cost Mr Prodi his majority of one. | His centrist Udeur party also has three seats in the upper house, the Senate, and its withdrawal has cost Mr Prodi his majority of one. |
| 'Political situation' | 'Political situation' |
| After a meeting of coalition party leaders, Mr Bonelli said Mr Prodi would speak to the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday "about the political situation" before formally asking for a vote of confidence. | After a meeting of coalition party leaders, Mr Bonelli said Mr Prodi would speak to the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday "about the political situation" before formally asking for a vote of confidence. |
| Mr Mastella threatens to oppose Mr Prodi in any confidence votes | |
| Mr Bonelli said the parliamentary debate would begin at 1300 (1400 GMT) and the confidence vote at 1500 (1600 GMT). | Mr Bonelli said the parliamentary debate would begin at 1300 (1400 GMT) and the confidence vote at 1500 (1600 GMT). |
| The Environment Minister, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, is also due to face a vote of confidence in the Senate on Wednesday for his handling of the rubbish crisis in Naples. | The Environment Minister, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, is also due to face a vote of confidence in the Senate on Wednesday for his handling of the rubbish crisis in Naples. |
| Correspondents say defeat for him would further undermine Mr Prodi's position. | Correspondents say defeat for him would further undermine Mr Prodi's position. |
| Mr Mastella said earlier this week that his Udeur party would probably vote against the government in any motions of no confidence. | Mr Mastella said earlier this week that his Udeur party would probably vote against the government in any motions of no confidence. |
| Italy's elected Senate is a more powerful body than upper houses in some other countries. Under the constitution, any government must "obtain the confidence" of both it and the Chamber of Deputies. | Italy's elected Senate is a more powerful body than upper houses in some other countries. Under the constitution, any government must "obtain the confidence" of both it and the Chamber of Deputies. |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says Mr Prodi does not want to rely on the seven unelected life senators, mostly former presidents, who tend to back him. | The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says Mr Prodi does not want to rely on the seven unelected life senators, mostly former presidents, who tend to back him. |
| Electoral reform | Electoral reform |
| Our correspondent says that even if Mr Prodi resigns, the path for Italy is still unclear. | Our correspondent says that even if Mr Prodi resigns, the path for Italy is still unclear. |
| There is widespread agreement among politicians - even among the prime minister's opponents - that the country needs new electoral laws, he adds. | There is widespread agreement among politicians - even among the prime minister's opponents - that the country needs new electoral laws, he adds. |
| Under the current system rushed in by the former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, smaller parties with a handful of seats hold the balance of power. | Under the current system rushed in by the former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, smaller parties with a handful of seats hold the balance of power. |
| Even Mr Berlusconi, now leader of the opposition, would have great difficulty forming a stable majority to rule if he was to win an election, our correspondent says. | Even Mr Berlusconi, now leader of the opposition, would have great difficulty forming a stable majority to rule if he was to win an election, our correspondent says. |
| Analysts say it is much more likely that if Mr Prodi does go, President Giorgio Napolitano will call an interim government of technocrats to force through such reforms. | Analysts say it is much more likely that if Mr Prodi does go, President Giorgio Napolitano will call an interim government of technocrats to force through such reforms. |