Italy's grand coalition government looks certain to limp on after Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister who had brought it to the brink of collapse with a threat to withdraw his MPs, backed down at the last minute when it became clear that rebels from his own party would allow a confidence vote to pass.
In an unusually curt statement in the upper house of parliament, the 77-year-old – who was convicted of tax fraud in August – said his deeply divided center-right Freedom People (PdL) party would vote as a block to support Enrico Letta's coalition.
It was a humiliating defeat for the man who has dominated the Italian political landscape for two decades, even if, by choosing to support the government, he will no doubt reserve the right to present himself as a responsible statesman.
"Italy needs a government that can carry out structural and institutional reforms which the country needs to modernize," said Berlusconi, who looked tired and solemn during the morning's debates. "We have decided, not without internal strife, to vote in confidence."
The statement was a remarkable volte face from a man who on Saturday plunged the eurozone's third largest economy into political turmoil by announcing he was withdrawing his ministers from the coalition, nominally in protest over fiscal policy.I am guessing most of u clowns commenting don't know Berlusconi. Before elections this year PDL was dead in the water until he came back and started campaigning and nearly winning the election. For a very small margin lost the right to form government. Remember hi party was trailing the PD now in power by 17-20 points before Berlusconi decided to lead his party. Why is he popular. Simply because he knows or cares what Italy needs and does not talk crap but talks figures backed up by real data. When he left the seat of his premiership I had a job and unemployment was at 8% Now it's 12pc and climbing I have left my country to work in London because of effing Monti and now Letta. Now u know why Berlusconi is loved but not by the PD/communists.
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