November 8th, 2011
10:59 AM ET

Italy's Berlusconi wins crunch budget vote, loses majority

Italy's parliament passed a crucial vote on budget reform measures Tuesday, a win for the government of embattled Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The budget passed by 308 votes, with all those present on the floor voting for the measure with the exception of one abstention.

However, more than half of the country's 630 lawmakers did not take part in the vote, a clear sign of unhappiness with the government - and an indication Berlusconi no longer has a working majority in parliament.

Berlusconi has come under increasing pressure to resign in recent days, amid growing domestic and international unease over Italy's economy, and may soon face a confidence vote.

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Filed under: Economy • Italy
soundoff (11 Responses)
  1. Scottish Mama

    I want a no confidence vote, for congress. All here in favor say I, those oppose say nay?

    November 8, 2011 at 11:04 am | Report abuse |
  2. Scottish Mama

    No confidence in Se-nate yay or nay?

    November 8, 2011 at 11:06 am | Report abuse |
  3. Scottish Mama

    No confidence in President Obama-yay or nay?

    November 8, 2011 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
  4. Scottish Mama

    No confidence in the political process yay or nay?

    November 8, 2011 at 11:08 am | Report abuse |
  5. Tyler

    Scottish: yay to all, except one abstension. Guess which one?

    November 8, 2011 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
    • Scottish Mama

      Political process?

      November 8, 2011 at 12:57 pm | Report abuse |
  6. SPONGE Bob Sperm pants

    Phillip touched me inappropriatly

    November 8, 2011 at 12:39 pm | Report abuse |
  7. RAH RAH

    Go Penn-etrate Sate

    November 8, 2011 at 1:20 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Tyler

    @Scottish: nope. I like Obama, I have more confidence in him then the other three put together.

    November 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    Now watch as Italy sinks into one of it's greatest depressions ever! It appears that Italy may once more need Fascist rule as it had back in the 1920's. At least, the Fascists can't possibly do any worse than Italy's current leaders!

    November 8, 2011 at 4:27 pm | Report abuse |
  10. italy hostel

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    April 15, 2012 at 2:45 pm | Report abuse |
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