Prodi´s government faces political crisis

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-25-2008 09:11

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has consulted with the President on whether to quit his troubled government or go ahead with a confidence vote he looks likely to lose.

Italian premier Romano Prodi joins his hands, prior  to a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Jan. 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Meanwhile, some Italians have expressed disappointment at the political crisis Prodi's government is facing.

On Thursday, Prodi is meeting for the second time in as many days with President Giorgio Napolitano. As head of state, Napolitano will decide what to do if Prime Minister Prodi resigns.

It isn't known if Prodi will tender his resignation during the meeting, or if he will await the outcome of the make-or-break Senate vote later on Thursday.

Italian newspapers on Thursday carried headlines reading "Judgment day," and "The premier is not giving up, new challenge in the senate."

Some residents in the Italian capital say the crisis is disconcerting.

Rome Resident, said, "This is the umpteenth crisis. This is the country of government crises. It is a critical situation and I was hoping that it would not be like this, where is the stability that many politicians talk about? I think it is almost clear at this point that we will have to have the anticipated elections."

Prodi's latest crisis erupted on Monday, when the tiny Christian Democrat party, the Union of Democrats for Europe -- or UDEUR -- withdrew its support from the government.

A day later, Prodi announced he would seek a vote of confidence in Parliament gambling that his allies would back him, and Italy's seven senators-for-life would rescue him, as they have in the past.

But with the UDEUR pullout and the defection of other allies on Wednesday, Prodi doesn't appear to have the numbers in the upper chamber to win the vote.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei