Italian parliament in confidence vote over soccer violence
05/10/2005 - 09:08:53Italy’s parliament was to hold a confidence vote today tied to a disputed decree to crack down on violence in soccer stadiums.
Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s government called the confidence vote to win quick approval for the measure.
The vote was scheduled for later today in Italy’s lower house. If passed, the measure must go to the Senate for final approval.
Italian governments frequently use votes of confidence to push legislation through Italy’s sluggish parliamentary system, brushing aside amendments and closing coalition ranks.
Berlusconi’s centre-right coalition enjoys a comfortable majority in both houses of parliament.
However, if a government loses a vote of confidence, it must resign.
