Italian PM Berlusconi agrees to resign after economic reforms

Italian PM Berlusconi agrees to resign after economic reforms

2011-11-09 12:18:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROME (BNO NEWS) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told President Giorgio Napolitano on Tuesday that he will resign after economic reforms to appease financial markets have been approved, the government said.

The decision was announced in a statement released by the president's press office after Berlusconi met with the head of state. The government's latest economic reforms are expected to be put to parliament next week.

The announcement came shortly after a vote in parliament on the budget was approved by only 308 votes in the lower house, below the 316 needed for an absolute majority. The 75-year-old prime minister informed Napolitano that he is aware of the implications of the vote.

Earlier, opposition leaders stepped up their calls for Berlusconi to resign as Italy's debt crisis grows. Berlusconi, who has been hit by sex and corruption scandals as well as local election and referendum defeats, had repeatedly rejected opposition calls for his resignation

Last month, Berlusconi narrowly won a crucial parliamentary confidence vote. The prime minister was met by young protesters who threw eggs and shouted 'shame' at him after leaving the lower house.

Berlusconi has led Italy as prime minister since May 2008. Before that, he served as prime minister from May 1994 until January 1995 and from June 2001 until May 2006. He also held several positions as minister.

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