Berlusconi scrapes through confidence vote

Italy’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has survived a vote of confidence in parliament but by a slim margin. His centre right administration scraped through by 316 votes to 301.

Losing the vote would have spelt an end to Berlusconi’s term in power.

But even as deputies were still casting their ballots, the opposition were talking about the government’s loss of credibility with a winning margin that they believe is not decisive enough for the administration to continue.

It was the 51st vote of confidence in Berlusconi’s government since 2008.

Copyright © 2012 euronews