Berlusconi faces tough time as Italian crisis deepens
A significant defection of People for Freedom (PDL) lawmakers would mean a loss of absolute majority for the party and its coalition, the Northern League. Berlusconi, however, has a support of 24 lawmakers from other minor parties which will keep...
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Friday faced a parliamentary crisis after he could not resolve some political and ideological issues with Gianfranco Fini, his one-time ally and the current speaker of the lower house.
After some bitter water that flowed between the two in recent times the Italian PM, Berlusconi asked Gianfranco Fini to resign from the post of the speaker of the lower house. The speaker, Fini, however refused it right away as he had a support of at least 30 lawmakers for this breakaway movement.
Berlusconi, however, has a support of 24 lawmakers from other minor parties which will keep him in power.
If Fini's supporters "have only around 15 they will be no more than a thorn in the side of the coalition... But if they have 30 or 35 the premier's optimism will have to face up to a bitter reality," wrote Stefano Folli of the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
Losing the majority in parliament will have "a series of consequences that the prime minister would be wise not to underestimate," Folli warned.
If the premier had to go, it would take at least 47 lawmakers to defect. If that happens, Berlusconi will lose his absolute majority which he and the coalition enjoys in the parliament.
The chamber currently has a current strength of 271 PDL lawmakers, 59 from the Northern League and another 24 considered favourable to the centre right, while the opposition has 269 MPs.
A significant defection of People for Freedom (PDL) lawmakers would mean a loss of absolute majority for the party and its coalition, the Northern League.
Berlusconi, however, has a support of 24 lawmakers from other minor parties which will keep him in power.
If Fini's supporters "have only around 15 they will be no more than a thorn in the side of the coalition... But if they have 30 or 35 the premier's optimism will have to face up to a bitter reality," wrote Stefano Folli of the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
Losing the majority in parliament will have "a series of consequences that the prime minister would be wise not to underestimate," Folli warned.
If the premier had to go, it would take at least 47 lawmakers to defect. If that happens, Berlusconi will lose his absolute majority which he and the coalition enjoys in the parliament.
The chamber currently has a current strength of 271 PDL lawmakers, 59 from the Northern League and another 24 considered favourable to the centre right, while the opposition has 269 MPs.
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