ITALY: PPI and LN to Present Censorship Motion against Berlusconi

ROME, Dic 17 (IPS) - The Italian Popular Party (PPI) and the Northern League (LN) will present a joint censorship motion on Monday against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government in parliament, it was announced Saturday.

Luigi Berlinguer, opposition Leftist Democratic Party (PDS) leader in the Chamber of Deputies, made the announcement after meeting with LN leader Umberto Bossi and PPI leader Massimo D'Alema on Saturday afternoon.

Parliamentary sources said the vote would probably take place next Thursday, the day after the debate on the government's future is to be held.

The progressive coalition, in which the PDS has a majority, said it would also present a censorship motion after the debate.

"The objective of our motion is to provoke the fall of Berlusconi's government," Berlinger said, adding that the initiative would "permit the government to realise its lack of majority support and the dissolution of its previous majority."

The two initiatives, which analysts expect to be unified in a single censorship motion, are the product of months of disputes within the ruling coalition.

Berlinguer said the two motions "do not reflect any substantial differences."

Berlusconi, who entered office seven months ago, claims he is a victim of a persecution campaign mounted by leftist parties and judges of the Clean Hands anti-corruption operation that is currently investigating him for allegedly shelling out bribes.

The five-party governing coalition, ideologically divided, is facing a split due to the Prime Minister's constant confrontations with LN leader Bossi.

Gianfranco Fini, leader of the right-wing National Alliance and Berlusconi's firm supporter, said he is optimistic about the government's future.

"We cannot assume the government will fall. But if it does, I think it will take only a few weeks to realise that new elections are necessary, because an alternative coalition simply does not exist."

The PDS wants a government not affiliated with any party, that would have a broad base of support in parliament to implement institutional reforms before Italy goes to general elections.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service