Scandal-hit Berlusconi to woo parliament

13/12/10 05:44 CET

world news

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It looks like crunch time for Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi as his hopes of surviving a no confidence motion hang in the balance.

Today the scandal-hit leader will address both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in a bid to win over support before tomorrows crucial vote. But political commentators predict it could be decided by the narrowest of margins.

His one time ally but now political nemesis Gianfranco Fini said Berlusconi was likely to loose the confidence of the Parliament.

“This time it’s clear,” Gianfranco said, “Berlusconi doesn’t want to rule the country, he just wants to stay in power and that’s something different. He wants to stay in power in order to be protected by the law which shields prime ministers from being prosecuted while in office.”

The public appears to have run out of patience with their media tycoon leader. At the weekend thousands of anti-government protesters gathered in Rome and mocked the 74-year-old’s alleged taste for parties and night club dancers.

More about: Italy, Parliamentary debate, Silvio Berlusconi

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