Italian PM Berlusconi survives confidence vote

Italian PM Berlusconi survives confidence vote

2011-10-15 06:28:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROME (BNO NEWS) -- Embattled Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Friday narrowly won a crucial parliamentary confidence vote. Defeat in the vote would have forced him to resign.

Berlusconi was greeted with applause from his supporters when the center-right government won the motion with 316 votes for and 301 against. The government had called the vote after failing to pass a routine review of the 2010 budget on Tuesday, the ANSA news agency reported.

"I am very sure that this outcome will not satisfy them," Berlusconi said of the opposition. "I have won the confidence vote after thwarting the spectacle of the opposition who miscalculated with their old tricks and presented an image on which Italians will reflect".

The prime minister was met by young protesters who threw eggs and shouted 'shame' at him after leaving the lower house. Demonstrators who have been openly critical of Berlusconi also blocked traffic in Rome's main shopping street, according to ANSA.

Berlusconi, who has been hit by sex and corruption trials as well as local election and referendum defeats, has repeatedly rejected opposition calls for his resignation. However, Pier Luigi Bersani, head of the opposition Democratic Party, has said that the government would ultimately be destroyed by confidence votes.

Berlusconi, who has said he will not seek reelection when his term expires in 2013, said the government is nonetheless strong and will last until 2013. An anti-government protest is due to be held in Rome on Saturday.

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