Italian Premier Resigns After Losing Senate Majority

[citizen snips]

Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned after just nine months as premier as he lost the support of allies in a parliamentary vote.

Prodi may get first chance to form a new government after President Giorgio Napolitano holds consultations with party and parliamentary leaders starting tomorrow. Should Prodi or one of his allies fail to build a majority in parliament, Italy could face new elections. Prodi led the country's 61st government since World War II.

``The next step will be to see if a second Prodi government is possible,'' said Franco Pavoncello a professor of political science and president of Rome's John Cabot University. ``The other option is to make an institutional figurehead premier. This scenario could easily spiral toward new elections.''

Prodi's nine-party coalition today failed to back a motion in support of Italy's participation in the NATO-led Afghanistan mission as some of his own allies defected, leading to a defeat by two votes. The prime minister's coalition holds just a one- seat majority and often depends on the support of honorary, life-appointed Senators to advance policy.

more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aeyCnJbOa4ts&refer=home

[Purveyor]

1. Rebelled over keeping Italian troops in Afghanistan, expansion of U.S. military base...

Clip from a Reuters report:

Prodi's last spell in power almost a decade ago was also cut short by far-left coalition allies. This time they rebelled over keeping Italian troops in Afghanistan and allowing the expansion of a U.S. military base in Italy.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/22/worldupdates/2007-02-22T020005Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-288659-4&sec=worldupdates

[Ghost Dog]

2. Capisco. n/t