Prodi prepares to defend government record before confidence vote |
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Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:24
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LONDON (AFX) - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is preparing to defend his government's record before the country's parliament on the eve of a confidence vote that could decide his political future.Prodi, who is due to appear at 5:00 pm, will have to convince senators that he can still govern after suffering the humiliation last week of losing a vote on troops in Afghanistan, which prompted his resignation.Although Italian President Giorgio Napolitano reappointed him on Saturday, he stipulated that the prime minister should submit to a vote of confidence in both houses of parliament.'It will be the most difficult speech of his career,' the liberal daily La Stampa reported today.Prodi has also called a cabinet meeting for an hour before he makes his crucial speech. There he is expected to make a statement that, according to press reports, could signal a move towards the political centre-ground.This change of political direction could involve reforms to the electoral law, blamed in large part for the current political crisis, La Stampa said.Prodi might call on the opposition to help him draft a new law, the paper speculated.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/rfw/harCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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Italy's senate to hold confidence vote for Prodi government Wednesday 