Berlusconi to face confidence vote
ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government will face a vote of confidence Thursday in the Senate to determine whether it continues in power or falls, Italian parliament sources told CNN.
According to the sources, Berlusconi will meet with the Senate at 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. EDT) Wednesday and then with the Chamber of Deputies at 5 p.m. (11 a.m. EDT) to plead his case for staying in power.
There was confusion about Berlusconi's status Monday night.
The Italian Foreign Ministry had told reporters the stalwart ally of U.S. President George W. Bush would meet with head of state Carlo Ciampi and resign in order to form a new government.
But, after meeting with Ciampi, Berlusconi told journalists he had not resigned.
Berlusconi's ruling coalition ran into trouble recently when his Forza Italia party lost 11 of 13 regional elections and the Union of Christian Democrats, a centrist party, left his coalition.
If Berlusconi loses the vote, the government will fall, probably leading to a general election that could be held as soon as late June.
Berlusconi will address both houses of parliament on Wednesday, a day ahead of the vote, to explain the confused political situation after he decided in a surprise move not to present a new government line-up to Italy's president on Monday. The rebel Union of Christian Democrats had demanded a government reshuffle.
Berlusconi's government -- the 59th Italian government since 1949 -- is the longest-serving in modern times. Its five-year term is not due to end until 2006.
Berlusconi's popularity has been declining as the Italian economy has slipped and as opposition to Italian involvement in the U.S.-led war in Iraq has increased.
Last month, Berlusconi announced that Italy's 3,000 troops in Iraq may begin a partial withdrawal this fall. Italy's contingent is the third-largest U.S.-allied force in Iraq, behind Britain and South Korea.
Twenty-eight Italians have died in the conflict -- 21 military personnel, six civilians and one intelligence officer.
