Italian PM Berlusconi faces critical confidence vote

[News_Editor]

Italian PM Berlusconi faces critical confidence vote

2010-12-14 11:05:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROME, ITALY (BNO NEWS) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Monday rejected an ultimatum from rival and former ally Gianfranco Fini ahead of Tuesday's confidence vote which will decide the fate of his government.

According to the ANSA news agency, Fini issued an ultimatum for Berlusconi to quit or face the fall of his government. Berlusconi responded by saying that he will not quit as he does not accept threats.

On Tuesday, Italian lawmakers will vote on a non-confidence motion as the government has been marked by scandal and infighting. The 74-year-old billionaire is expected to be defeated in the House vote.

Fini's Future and Freedom (FLI) party said that the current Prime Minister should step down in order to avoid public humiliation. However, the Northern League, his key ally, predicted that Berlusconi will win the confidence vote by a wide margin.

"I can understand those who want to vote against the government and ignite a crisis leading to new elections, or at least proposing a new prime minister who would be sure of being able to secure an alternative majority," Berlusconi said. "On the other hand I cannot grasp what motivates those who want to trigger a crisis at any price with no way out."

The day of the vote is being dubbed as B-Day (B for Berlusconi) in Italy where analysts believe that, if he survives the vote, the majority will be so small that B-Day could sink the government furthermore.

It will be Berlusconi's most important day in his political career as a negative vote would force him to resign. His Senate majority is expected to support him in the upper house vote, but he no longer enjoys a majority in the lower house who could vote against him.

Once a loyal partner, Fini has turned against Berlusconi, accusing him of running the government like one of the companies in his vast business empire and attacking him over a series of corruption scandals.

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