Italy's govt loses backing for Afghanistan
Italy’s government today lost a crucial vote in the Senate over its mission in Afghanistan, a result that could lead to its resignation.
Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema had said earlier that the government should resign if it could not win the vote.
Premier Romano Prodi’s centre-left government needed 160 votes to win backing from the upper house over its foreign policy programme. It received 158, compared to a 136 from the conservative opposition, but a large number of abstentions – equivalent to a “No” vote in the Senate – caused the government to lose.
The opposition immediately called on the government to resign.
“To be consistent, the government must now resign,” opposition Sen. Roberto Calderoli said.
Italy has 1,800 troops in Afghanistan, which were sent in by former Premier Silvio Berlusconi. The current government has agreed to keep the troops there, sparking opposition from its own Communist allies.
Mr Prodi’s government, which took power in May, has been dogged by bickering within a coalition that ranges from Communists to Christian Democrats.
The coalition holds a slight majority in the Senate and any rebellion poses serious risks to its stability.
