Italian prime minister to face confidence
As crisis worsens, popularity wanes
ROME -- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi put his political future on the line yesterday by submitting his government to a confidence vote in parliament, and ministers of his top coalition ally said they had their resignation letters ready.
Berlusconi is struggling with the worst crisis of his four-year government, triggered by a crushing defeat in regional elections this month. The billionaire media mogul's popularity has fallen amid sluggish economic growth and Italy's unpopular military mission in Iraq.
The vote is scheduled for tomorrow. If the government fails to rally a majority in parliament, it must resign.
Even if his conservative allies stand by him, the five ministers of Berlusconi's top coalition ally, the National Alliance party, warned that they have their resignation letters ready.
If they should resign, there is little chance the government can survive and Berlusconi would probably be forced into early elections.
''I would be very surprised if he can come back from this," said Roberto D'Alimonte, a professor of politics, but added: ''You should never count Berlusconi out."
Berlusconi has resisted calls to resign and reshuffle the Cabinet, a tactic frequently used by Italian prime ministers to reinforce faltering coalitions.
Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, leader of the National Alliance, expressed ''regret" that Berlusconi did not resign on Monday evening as had been expected.
Berlusconi served as prime minister for seven months in 1994. His current administration is Italy's longest-serving postwar government, and he hopes to serve a full five-year term.
''He has an obsession with records," said D'Alimonte. ''He has always been afraid to resign."
Even if he survives the confidence vote, problems may lie ahead.
Last week, a smaller coalition partner, the Union of Christian Democrats, decided to withdraw its three ministers from the Cabinet. The tiny New Italian Socialist Party has also pulled out two lower-level officials.
The center-left opposition, led by former European Commission president Romano Prodi, is pressing for early elections. Among their complaints are Berlusconi's handling of the economy and his decision to send Italian troops to Iraq after the ouster of Saddam Hussein.
Pressure to pull out the troops mounted after the March 4 killing in Baghdad of an Italian intelligence agent who was escorting a freed Italian hostage. The agent was killed by US troops who mistakenly opened fire on his vehicle.
Last year, Italy's economy grew by 1.2 percent, compared with an average of 2 percent in the 12-nation euro zone. 