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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Embattled Italy PM backed by MPs | Embattled Italy PM backed by MPs |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has won a first vote of confidence in the lower chamber of parliament. | Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has won a first vote of confidence in the lower chamber of parliament. |
| As expected, the Chamber of Deputies voted by a majority of 51 to keep the centre-left coalition. | |
| But all eyes are on the Senate, where the loss of a small allied party has cost Mr Prodi his majority. A vote there has been set for Thursday. | But all eyes are on the Senate, where the loss of a small allied party has cost Mr Prodi his majority. A vote there has been set for Thursday. |
| Mr Prodi has been urged to resign before then - including by the country's president. | |
| The crisis was sparked by the withdrawal on Monday of the centrist Udeur party - and its three seats - from Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, costing the prime minister his Senate majority of one. | The crisis was sparked by the withdrawal on Monday of the centrist Udeur party - and its three seats - from Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, costing the prime minister his Senate majority of one. |
| 'Reprieve' | 'Reprieve' |
| Udeur party leader and former justice minister, Clemente Mastella, pulled out after being forced to quit last week following his implication in a corruption inquiry. | Udeur party leader and former justice minister, Clemente Mastella, pulled out after being forced to quit last week following his implication in a corruption inquiry. |
| Three other senators, including the former Prime Minister, Lamberto Dini, urged Mr Prodi to quit on Wednesday to avoid holding the Senate vote. | Three other senators, including the former Prime Minister, Lamberto Dini, urged Mr Prodi to quit on Wednesday to avoid holding the Senate vote. |
| Polls suggest a snap election could see a Silvio Berlusconi comeback | Polls suggest a snap election could see a Silvio Berlusconi comeback |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says the lower house vote was a reprieve for Mr Prodi. | The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says the lower house vote was a reprieve for Mr Prodi. |
| Our correspondent says there are always shifting loyalties in Italian politics and plenty of phone calls are no doubt being made to try to muster support - but it looks increasingly unlikely the prime minister can win in the Senate. | Our correspondent says there are always shifting loyalties in Italian politics and plenty of phone calls are no doubt being made to try to muster support - but it looks increasingly unlikely the prime minister can win in the Senate. |
| Silvio Berlusconi, the conservative former prime minister who was beaten by Mr Prodi in 2006 elections, wants to see the premier defeated in the Senate. | Silvio Berlusconi, the conservative former prime minister who was beaten by Mr Prodi in 2006 elections, wants to see the premier defeated in the Senate. |
| This would trigger calls for snap elections, which polls suggest Mr Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party could win comfortably, our correspondent says. | This would trigger calls for snap elections, which polls suggest Mr Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party could win comfortably, our correspondent says. |
| He says the other more likely option, favoured by President Giorgio Napolitano, is a caretaker government capable of bringing all these different sides together to force through much needed electoral reforms, before a future election is held. | He says the other more likely option, favoured by President Giorgio Napolitano, is a caretaker government capable of bringing all these different sides together to force through much needed electoral reforms, before a future election is held. |