Embattled Prodi Risks Senate Vote

World | January 24, 2008, Thursday // 00:00

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is to risk a confidence vote in the Senate despite calls for him to resign, Italian media reports.

Prodi had been advised by President Giorgio Napolitano to avoid the vote, which the PM is in danger of losing.

Prodi told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that he wanted the vote to go ahead for the sake of the nation.

"It's painful, but I have to do it for the country," he said. "Italians have the right to know who is in favour of my government and who is opposed."

The crisis was sparked by the withdrawal on Monday of the centrist Udeur party - with its three seats - from Prodi's ruling coalition, costing the prime minister his Senate advantage of two.

The party pulled out, citing a lack of support for its leader, the former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, who resigned after being named in a corruption probe. He maintains that he is innocent.

The embattled 68-year-old premier won Wednesday's Chamber of Deputies vote by 326 votes to 275, but is highly unlikely to save his coalition.

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