Four Berlusconi officials quit to force Italian government collapse

Four Berlusconi officials quit to force Italian government collapse

2010-11-16 00:06:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROME (BNO NEWS) -- Four Italian government officials, including a minister, resigned on Monday bringing the government led by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at risk of collapse.

The resignations were announced by Gianfranco Fini, rival and former ally of Berlusconi. He said that European affairs minister Andrea Ronchi, a deputy minister and two undersecretaries left their posts and that their decisions were irrevocable.

The announcement is the latest development in the Fini-Berlusconi dispute. The Italian Prime Minister discharged Fini as speaker of the lower house last July following months of public acrimony.

After his expulsion, Fini formed the Future and Liberty for Italy group which on November 7 it was formally launched as a new political party. After Monday’s events, the Italy’s ruling conservative majority is no longer guaranteed.

Berlusconi on Saturday pledged to call a confidence vote in both chambers of the parliament although he will likely wait until the Italy’s 2011 budget is passed in mid-December. Next year's budget is expected to include spending cuts worth 13 billion euros.

In addition to the European affairs minister, Adolfo Urso, Antonio Buonfiglio and Roberto Menia also left the government. Urso was the vice-minister for economic development.

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