Italian crisis: Silvio Berlusconi faces calls to resign

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi is facing growing calls for his resignation, after apparently losing his majority in the lower house of parliament.


Mr Berlusconi won a vote on the budget, but received less than half the votes in the chamber.

After the vote, opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani urged him to step down. Allies including the Northern League had already said he should quit.

Money markets no longer believe he can deal with the country's debt crisis.

Mr Berlusconi has so far refused to resign, but said he would make a decision on his future after the vote. He is now consulting with senior ministers.

While Italy's deficit is relatively low, investors are concerned that the combination of Italy's low growth rate and 1.9tn euro (£1.63tn; $2.6tn) debt could make it the next country to fall in the eurozone debt crisis.
'Real risk'

Mr Berlusconi has always maintained that he has enough support to continue to govern.

A total of 308 MPs voted for the budget, far below the 316 needed for an absolute majority.

None voted against and 321 did not vote.

Many from the PM's own coalition refused to support him, joining the opposition in not voting.

"The government no longer has a majority in this chamber," Mr Bersani said immediately after the vote.

"I ask you, Mr Prime Minister, with all my strength, to finally take account of the situation... and resign.

"We all know that Italy is running the real risk in the days ahead of not having access to financial markets."

BBC news