Reports of Silvio Berlusconi’s imminent resignation yesterday may have been exaggerated,
but it remains to be seen how greatly. He faces a big test today, in the form of a crucial vote on the Italian budget. Berlusconi has proved adept at surviving such confidence votes throughout his
time as Prime Minister, but today’s opposition may be too much even for him. In the words of Italian academic Roberto D’Alimonte to the Telegraph:
In the last few minutes, Umberto Bossi – the leader of Berlsuconi’s coalition partners Lega Nord – has said that he called on the Prime Minister to step down. This further weakens Berlusconi’s position ahead of the vote, suggesting that he may be on his way out after all.“Nobody knows what the result will be, I think even Berlusconi doesn’t know.”
Meanwhile in Greece, there has been no agreement as yet on a successor to George Papandreou. The Guardian reports
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