THE CENTRE-RIGHT Italian government of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi last night comfortably survived a crucial confidence vote in the lower house, with 342 deputies in favour and 275 against. The vote, which had been called by Mr Berlusconi, comes at the end of a summer marked by bitter tensions between the prime minister and key centre-right ally, the speaker of the house, Gianfranco Fini.
Mr Berlusconi had called last night’s vote to “clear the air” and remove any doubts about the solidity of his government. Despite the comfortable win however, most commentators remain sceptical about the government’s immediate future. In particular, the support of Mr Fini’s Future and Freedom (FLI) group remains conditional, based on an issue-by-issue analysis.
While FLI’s estimated 41 deputies last night voted with the government, the FLI whip, Italo Bocchino, speaking after the prime minister had addressed the house yesterday, said: “We will vote the confidence vote because the prime minister’s address to the house today reflects the electoral programme on the basis of which we won the election . . . However, this government majority needs our votes, our support and it will have to dialogue with us because we hold the balance [of power] . . .”
In his speech, Mr Berlusconi had set out plans to reform the justice system, increase the fiscal autonomy of Italy’s regions, fight organised crime, combat illegal immigration and implement economic stimulants for the underdeveloped south. He lamented the divisive climate of Italian politics, arguing that in the present global economic climate it was in the best interests of Italy for his government to remain in office, saying “ . . . Today, we face a delicate moment in Italian political life, and everyone is called to show a sense of responsibility, making the common good and the national interest our number one priority . . .”
His speech did not impress the parliamentary opposition who accused him of “buying” votes. Former investigating magistrate Antonio Di Pietro, leader of the Italy of Values (IDV) party, angrily denounced the prime minister, saying: “Berlusconi showed that he is a rattlesnake who is trying to depict an Italy far from the reality and in the process dupe Italians. Reading between the lines of his speech, you can see that his only real aims are to block investigating magistrates, guarantee his own impunity and to continue to govern along the lines of [Masonic group] P2, of which he is the legal representative.”