Berlusconi seeks confidence vote

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today asked lawmakers for a vote of confidence in his government, saying Italy must be spared political instability at a time of financial woes.

Berlusconi outlined his government's goals in a crucial parliament speech ahead of the confidence vote, which was called to test his majority after a split with long time political ally Gianfranco Fini.

Berlusconi is expected to survive the confidence vote in the lower house of parliament. But if he loses, he will have to resign halfway through his current five-year term.

Professor of international relations at The American University of Rome, James Walston, explained that one of the major reasons for the rift is the question of legality.

“Legality, for Fini, involves reform of the whole justice system”, he told Vatican Radio. “For Berlusconi, it means protection. And they disagree very profoundly on that. And so everyone will vote in favour of legality, but then what they mean by legality is very different. The devil is very much… not even in the details, but in the sub-heading.”