Posted on 04/20/2005 6:13:18 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has reportedly said that he will resign his post today.
Sources in his Forza Italia party said he would quit as part of a bid to form a new government coalition.
Yesterday it was announced that he would face a vote of confidence in the Italian parliament on Thursday.
It came as his present coalition crumbled following heavy defeats for Forza Italia in regional elections.
Senior members of coalition partner the Northern Alliance, including Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini, have threatened to resign.
Mr Berlusconi's popularity has fallen amid sluggish economic growth and Italy's unpopular military mission in Iraq.
The billionaire media mogul has never been far from controversy.
His ownership of top TV stations and newspapers has been painted as a serious conflict of interest.
I thought he said that reports of his resignation were false.
He is doing sooo poorly that he would never win an election. Its better he resigns and forms a new government. This might help him!
Looks like the left is making gains throughout Europe. First Spain replaces a conservative and now Italy is threatening to. Have they learned nothing?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.