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Italy PM to launch bid to save government in parliament
Jan 18, 2021
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was due to address parliament’s lower house on Monday at the start of a make-or-break week in a crisis that could bring down his government.
Against the backdrop of a coronavirus pandemic that sparked fresh restrictions at the weekend, Conte will seek a show of support with lawmakers ahead of a crucial vote in the upper Senate the following day.
His coalition government, in power since September 2019, was plunged into turmoil by the withdrawal last week of former premier Matteo Renzi’s Italia Viva party.
Conte was to speak at midday to the Chamber of Deputies, where his coalition partners including the Democratic Party (PD) and Five Star Movement (M5S) have a majority of support.
The real test will come on Tuesday, however, when he addresses the Senate and faces what will effectively be a vote of confidence.
Conte’s government no longer controls the upper chamber after Renzi withdrew Italia Viva’s 18 senators, depriving the premier of an automatic majority in the 321-seat house.
“We are working to ensure that the attempt to bring down the government tomorrow is foiled. We are convinced that we will succeed,” said PD deputy leader Andrea Orlando.
But the outcome of the Senate vote, and its consequences, are very uncertain.
Conte has been trying to win the support of opposition lawmakers but is struggling.
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