Ally calls for Berlusconi to quit as PM faces key vote

THE GOVERNING coalition of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in disarray today following a call from a leading ally for his resignation. It is the latest in a series of high-profile desertions that have put into doubt Berlusconi's ability to command a majority in parliament. This afternoon, he faces a key vote in parliament.

The prime minister is under severe pressure because of the parlous state of Italy's finances. The rate of interest the government pays to borrow money soared to a record high of 6.67 per cent yesterday. An interest rate of 7 per cent forced Ireland to seek a bailout.

Berlusconi's key coalition ally told Berlusconi to resign in a meeting this morning. Umberto Bossi, the leader of the Northern League party, told reporters: "We asked the prime minister to stand down." He wants Berlusconi to be replaced by former Justice Minister Angelino Alfano, who is a member of the PM's People of Freedom party.

Bossi's bombshell is the latest in a series of defections and calls to quit from MPs previously loyal to Berlusconi.

On Sunday, Gabriella Carlucci, one of the prime minister's infamous showgirl MPs, defected to the conservative Union of the Centre party. The former TV presenter said she was forced to act because of Berlusconi's refusal to step aside in favour of a government of national unity, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In October, Berlusconi scraped through a confidence vote with 316 votes to 301. Since then, at least nine of his own MPs have defected or declared their intention to rebel, according to the BBC, putting his ability to win another confidence vote in serious doubt.

This afternoon, Berlusconi faces what should have been a routine vote on Italy's public accounts for 2010. It is thought he will make a decision on his future afterwards. Bossi said about the vote: "Nothing will happen today."

Should he manage to stay, Berlusconi faces two crucial votes next week on amendments to the Italian austerity budget - in the upper house, the Senate, and in the lower house, the chamber of deputies. Either of these could trigger a vote of confidence, which he could easily lose.

Berlusconi was forced to use Facebook yesterday to issue a denial that he was resigning.

It came after Giuliano Ferrara, editor of Il Foglio, said: "The fact that Berlusconi is about to step down is given as read, it is just a question of time, maybe even minutes."

Ferrara is a Berlusconi confidante - and his words gained credence as news circulated that the PM had left Rome for an appointment, according to the Daily Mail.
 
However, the appointment turned out to be a gathering of his family at his Milan villa. Berlusconi took to Facebook to declare: "Rumours of my resignation are groundless."

The Prime Minister clearly has no intention of leaving without a fight, telling another newspaper, Libero, that he'll push for a confidence vote. "I want to look into the faces of those who are trying to betray me," he said, according to The Guardian. ·