Italy PM: New Elections If No Solid Government Majority By January

[Joanne98]

Source: Dow Jones

ROME (Dow Jones)--The Italian government is ready to call a new general election next year if it can't gather the support of a larger number of lawmakers by the end of January, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday.

The government needs a parliamentary majority that allows it to govern and not "just to float," said Berlusconi at the government's end-of-year conference. He added that he expects the government gain more supporters in parliament by then.

Last week, Berlusconi managed to scrape through a confidence vote by just three votes at the Chamber of Deputies, prompting speculation that such a narrow majority could pave the way for early elections.

The government's survival has helped support the "regular" purchase of public debt in financial markets, said Berlusconi. He added the government had no plans for extra measures in the 2011 budget.



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20101223-703228.html

[sabbat hunter]

1. hopefully

He will get voted out in favor of a more left/moderate party (and one that is far less corrupt)

[Joanne98]

2. That would be nice.