Berlusconi Survives No-Confidence Vote

Silvio Berlusconi survived no-confidence votes today, coasting comfortably through the Italian Senate, but barely escaping the House vote with his political career intact, reports the Wall Street Journal. The narrowness of the 314-311 House vote underscores how compromised the Italian PM's grasp on power has become.

Berlusconi's next move is unclear: In a speech yesterday, he said he's prepared to shake up his government if he survived. “If you give us your vote of confidence, we will open the doors,” he said. “We are ready to change the team.” Regardless, early elections likely loom: “You can’t govern with a one-vote advantage,” says one Berlusconi ally.
(More Silvio Berlusconi stories.)