Rome: Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called for an end to the feuding that has overshadowed Italian politics before a confidence vote on Wednesday that is expected to consolidate his hold on power, at least for the moment.
In a speech occasionally interrupted by cheers from supporters and jeers from the opposition benches, Berlusconi warned that the situation facing Italy required an end to the animosity which has corroded the political climate.
"It is absolutely in the interests of our country not to risk a period of instability in this moment where the crisis is not yet over," he said in a speech to parliament ahead of the vote, which was expected last night after a debate.
Rare intervention
Berlusconi's rare intervention in parliament follows the dramatic break in July with his former ally Gianfranco Fini, who was effectively expelled from the ruling People of Freedom (PDL) party they created together in 2008.
The split left Berlusconi without a secure parliamentary majority after Fini took more than 40 lower house deputies and senators with him, although the rebel group has indicated that they will not vote to bring the government down.
As expected, Berlusconi outlined a five point programme of policy priorities ranging from reforms to the justice system and measures to increase the fiscal autonomy of the regions to combatting organised crime and illegal immigration, and steps to help the poor south of Italy.
His speech was to be followed by a confidence vote which could theoretically be the trigger for an early election if the government lost.
But that appears unlikely after Fini's supporters said they expected to vote with the prime minister who stuck to the five point programme with which they are largely in agreement.
"We're going to say yes at the confidence vote," Andrea Ronchi, a senior Fini ally told reporters immediately after the speech.
Bitter climate
There are few major policy differences between the Fini and Berlusconi camps but the dispute has been unusually bitter, with each side accusing the other of lies, smears and betrayal.
Fini has denounced Berlusconi for running the government like one of his private companies and he has been a fierce critic of a series of scandals implicating associates of the prime minister.
Berlusconi in turn accuses Fini, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, of treachery and says he is only motivated by egotism and personal ambition.
Public figures ranging from the head of the main employers federation Confindustria to unions and senior members of the Catholic church have warned that the feud has distracted the government from the task of reform.
