Berlusconi supporters take to the streets ahead of confidence vote

Thousands of Silvio Berlusconi supporters took to the streets Sunday to show their backing for Italy’s beleaguered prime minister a day after opposition voters protested against his administration. The PM faces a vote of confidence on Tuesday.

By Nicolas Germain (video)
News Wires (text)

AFP – Supporters of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlsuconi rallied in cities across Italy on Sunday, ahead of a nail-biting vote of confidence next week which could bring down his government.

In Rome, thousands joined a rally where they watched a video message from Berlusconi, in which he accused the breakaway faction of former ally Gianfranco Fini of betraying voters, according to an AFP reporter.

"I will secure the vote of confidence," Berlusconi said in the message, which was previously broadcast on Saturday and repeated with Berlusconi unable to address the crowd directly due to technical problems.

By FRANCE 24

"Not quite as massive a turnout as what we saw yesterday". Josephine MCKENNA, FRANCE 24 correspondent, Rome, Italy.

"We are here to win the backing of our supporters... The People of Freedom is a populist party... It has governed Italy well, and wishes to continue to do this, in parliament and in the whole country," said the party's senate laeder Maurizio Gasparri, one of a number of big-hitters at the rally.

Similar demonstrations were staged in about 100 towns and cities, the party said.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied against Berlusconi in Rome on Saturday at the call of the main opposition Democratic Party, which laid on 18 special trains, 1,500 buses and even two ships to bring them from all over Italy.