Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will go ahead with a confidence vote in the Italian Senate despite being expected to lose it.
The latest crisis was started last Monday night by the withdrawal from the coalition of the small ex-Christian Democrat party, UDEUR. Mr Prodi then declared his intention to test his coalition's strength with a vote of confidence in both houses.
The first took place in the lower house yesterday and, as expected, saw Mr Prodi's government comfortably winning - by 326 votes to 275.
However, in the senate, Mr Prodi has relied on a wafer-thin, one- or two-vote majority in the Senate, often forcing measures through thanks only to the votes of the non-aligned life senators.
The prime minister had already lost three votes with the withdrawal of the UDEUR - which has announced it will vote with the opposition.
Three other centre-left senators confirmed yesterday they would vote also against the government.
Mr Prodi will be forced to resign if he loses the confidence vote.