Berlusconi wins key vote, but his power base shrinks

Berlusconi wins key vote, but his power base shrinks

Italy’s Premier Silvio Berlusconi won a much-watched vote in parliament on Tuesday, but failed to get enough support to stay in power much longer, as pressure built for him to resign to calm markets roiled by the European debt crisis.

Berlusconi has refused so far to heed calls — both from the opposition and his own allies — to step down. But he reportedly told deputies that he needs to “reflect” on the vote tally, admitting finally he had a “problem” with a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.

Berlusconi’s Government is under intense pressure to enact quick reforms to shore up Italy’s defences against Europe’s raging debt crisis. However, a weak coalition and doubts over Berlusconi’s leadership have ignited market fears of a looming Italian financial disaster that could bring down the 17-nation eurozone and shock the global economy.

Tuesday’s vote, on a routine measure to approve the 2010 state books, garnered 308 votes of approval and none against in the Chamber of Deputies. But 321 deputies abstained from voting — most from the opposition Centre-Left — a tactic that laid bare Berlusconi’s shrinking hold on parliament.