ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi, facing expulsion from parliament over a tax conviction and a revolt which split his centre-right party, said yesterday he may no longer back Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta but would not be able to bring down the government.
The 77-year-old billionaire’ s comments came after Friday’s defection of a group led by Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, former secretary of his People of Freedom party, which defied Berlusconi and formed a group that has pledged to remain in Letta’s coalition government. Speaking at a congress to rebrand People of Freedom (PDL) as Forza Italia, the name of his original political movement, Berlusconi said his impending expulsion from parliament, with the support of Letta’s centre-left Democratic Party (PD), meant the left-right coalition created in the wake of February’s deadlocked election could not continue. “It’s very difficult to think you can remain allies in parliament and above all seated at the same table in cabinet with someone who wants to kill your leader politically,” Berlusconi said.
Despite calls of “Traitors!” from some in the crowd, Berlusconi maintained a conciliatory tone towards Alfano and his group, saying the break had “caused him a lot of pain” and it was unclear what direct effect the announcement would have on the stability of Letta’s government.
Alfano’s group, which includes 30 senators and 27 lower house deputies, should ensure enough support in parliament for Letta, who survived a confidence vote last month with the help of the PDL rebels, as Berlusconi himself acknowledged.
