Vote called on Italy’s budget
ITALIAN Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s coalition government said yesterday it will call a confidence vote on its 2014 budget, a move that will give the first clear proof of its strength since Silvio Berlusconi’s party split earlier on this month.
Confidence votes, which limit the scope for time-consuming amendments, are regularly called to speed legislation in Italy and Letta is almost certain to win with the backing of rebels who split from Berlusconi’s centre-right party, now rebranded under its original name Forza Italia. But the motion in the Senate heightens tension ahead of a vote to expel Berlusconi from parliament this week.