Premier Silvio Berlusconi's new government won approval from the Italian Senate on Thursday, ending a government crisis that followed an embarrassing defeat in regional elections. The confidence vote in the Senate - won 170-117 by the premier's conservative coalition - was the last hurdle before the new Cabinet was fully empowered. It came after Berlusconi briefly resigned to reshuffle his government last week in a bid to end bickering among his allies. In a 30-minute address to the Senate before the vote, Berlusconi vowed to carry out an economic platform that includes tax cuts for businesses and a new push to lift Italy's poorer south. The lower house of parliament approved the government on Wednesday.