Rome, November 28: The Italian prime minister has called for a rally of support ahead of a no-confidence vote in parliament, amid widespread protests against his government’s policies.
In a video message to his party on Saturday, Silvio Berlusconi called for a “big, big demonstration and a collection of signatures of support” on December 11 and 12.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators joined members of Italy’s largest labor union on Saturday to protest against the austerity plans proposed by the government.
Berlusconi put the blame for Italy’s economic woes on those who, as he said, were the source of an “unreasonable and irresponsible political crisis,” AFP reported.
He was referring to his ally-turned-rival, lower house speaker Gianfranco Fini, who separated from their People for Liberty (PDL) coalition in July.
The Italian prime minister accused the parliamentarians who did not support his majority of “having betrayed the voters and they will carry all their lives the mark of this lack of loyalty.”
Berlusconi said weakening his government would bring about instability, warning that “a crisis of credibility could frighten the markets and international investors and lead us down the same road as Greece and Ireland.”
On November 13, Berlusconi said if the parliament approved his 2011 budget plans, he would put his government to the test by seeking a vote of confidence.
The Italian premier will have to resign if he loses a confidence vote. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano can call for snap elections if Berlusconi fails to assemble a new government.
In response to Berlusconi’s remarks, Fini described the statements as propaganda, saying it was the prime minister who first betrayed the nation.
Fini warned that if Berlusconi keeps acting like this, “he will have neither the confidence (of parliament) or the anticipated elections because many parliamentarians would not want to vote.”
Earlier this month, Fini had called for Berlusconi’s resignation after the Italian leader became entangled in yet another sex scandal, this time with a teenage dancer.
Berlusconi’s popularity ratings have dropped below 40 percent due to his government’s austerity package, infighting, and corruption scandals.
——–Agencies