Heavy rain hits Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah Al-Shafiyah in Madinah and Al-Basateen in Jeddah record highest rate of rainfall    Rabigh waterspout declared the strongest of its kind    67% surge in commercial registrations in 4Q 2024    Gunmen kill at least three Israelis in West Bank bus attack    PIF announces $7 billion inaugural Murabaha Credit Facility    Saudi FM and U.S. envoy to Lebanon discuss regional issues    Golden Globes 2025: France's 'Emilia Pérez' wins big, as 'The Brutalist' nabs major awards    Congo executes 102 'urban bandits' with 70 more set to be killed, officials say    Alabama nursing student wins Miss America 2025    New York first US city to have congestion charge    Demi Moore continues comeback with Golden Globe win    Chinese nationals arrested with gold bars and $800,000 cash in DR Congo    Body of missing Indian journalist found in septic tank    Dakar and CATRION team up to elevate catering experience at Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2025    Projected funding needs for 2025 estimated at SR139 billion as per annual borrowing plan    Bahrain stage dramatic comeback to defeat Oman and claim Khaleeji Zain 26 title    Elon Musk confirms Starlink application to launch internet services in Pakistan    AC Milan beats Juventus 2-1 to reach Supercoppa final against Inter    Ronaldo eyes AFC Champions League glory with Al Nassr    Meghan announces new Netflix lifestyle show    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Berlusconi ousts ally, says government stable
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 30 - 07 - 2010

Silvio Berlusconi has split with his oldest political ally and co-founder of his party, a spectacular falling-out expected to make it harder for the premier to push disputed legislation through parliament.
Berlusconi's split with Gianfranco Fini does not put the Italian leader's two-year-old government at immediate risk of collapse, AP cited analysts and officials as saying Friday.
But it leaves the government with a slimmer parliamentary majority, especially in one house.
«We're going toward a situation of war. I see great difficulties for this government and this legislature,» Stefano Folli, one of Italy's leading analysts, told The Associated Press.
Berlusconi has a history of trying to push through parliament bills that are criticized as tailor-made to protect his interest or that of his associates. He maintains he acts for the good of the country.
For example, a bill seeking to restrict both the scope and publication of wiretaps _ currently before parliament _ has been fiercely opposed of lawmakers close to Fini, pushing further debate on it till after the summer recess.
«On the issue of Berlusconi's judicial interests it will be like hitting against a wall,» Folli says. «There can be surprises there.»
Fini and Berlusconi, while often bickering, had been together since Berlusconi's first foray into politics in 1994. Fini is a former Neo-Fascist leader whose alliance with Berlusconi has helped him move solidly toward mainstream conservatism.
Berlusconi's current government took office in May 2008 with a five-year mandate.
Fini and Berlusconi have been at odds on a number of issues but most notably Fini has expressed unease about bills that were perceived as protecting Berlusconi or his associates from legal woes.
On Thursday night, Berlusconi effectively ousted Fini from the People of Freedom party, accusing him of creating a «party within a party» and having an «attitude of permanent opposition to the government.» Berlusconi said Fini had carried out «a systematic attack» against him.
But Berlusconi said he would have no problem keeping in the government one minister and some undersecretaries who are part of Fini's faction.
Lawmakers loyal to Fini formed their own separate parliamentary group on Friday, meaning they would have free hands and not be mandated to vote as demanded by the Freedom of People party.
It was not clear how many people would follow Fini.
Berlusconi will have no problem securing a majority in the Senate. In the lower house of parliament, where Fini serves as speaker, the Freedom of People might be reduced to a very thin majority, or might even need to turn to its other government ally, the Northern League, to have one.
Fini said Friday his lawmakers will support the government when it sticks to its program. Folli said he expected Fini to remain loyal to the government on major issues such as Italy's mission in Afghanistan and foreign or economic policies _ austerity measures were passed by parliament just hours before the split was announced.
But Fini also said that they «will not hesitate to oppose choices that are seen as unjust or harmful of the general interest» _ a possible reference to some of the controversial proposals pushed forward by Berlusconi .
Confidence in Berlusconi's government has been slipping, coming in at 33 percent in July from 49 percent at the beginning of the government and a peak of 54 percent in September 2008. The poll by IPR marketing has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.


Clic here to read the story from its source.