Italian premier Berlusconi wins confidence vote

Silvio Berlusconi's government won a confidence vote Tuesday on a minor economic law. It is the 44th confidence vote since his party took power in 2008 and comes on the heels of several consecutive defeats in other referenda.

By News Wires (text)

AFP - Silvio Berlusconi's government won a confidence vote on a bill in parliament Tuesday, bringing temporary relief to the Italian premier after crushing defeats in local elections and a round of referendums.

The government had turned a vote on a law for minor economic reforms into a show of confidence in the lower house, as Berlusconi prepared to reassure his supporters of his leadership in a speech to parliament later on Tuesday.

In the 44th confidence vote since the premier's People of Freedom party came to power in 2008, the bill - which includes tax breaks and investment incentives - was adopted by 317 votes to 293 with two abstentions.

The vote came just a week after Berlusconi suffered a trouncing in referendums that wiped out his plans to return Italy to nuclear power and dismissed a legal immunity law designed to keep him out of court.

The defeat represented a second blow to the embattled premier in less than a month, after his party lost critical mayoral votes in Milan and Naples in May.

The embarrassing setbacks have led to tensions within the government, with Berlusconi's coalition partner - the populist Northern League party - issuing a series of ultimatums on Sunday in exchange for his continued support.