Prodi wins confidence vote in Italy's Senate
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-20 08:45 CRACKS
Although Prodi survived this first test, the tension revealed cracks in his
coalition whose parties range from the center to the hard left.
A junior government party, Italy of Values, threatened to vote against Prodi
in protest at his decision not to appoint a cabinet minister in charge of the
interests of Italians abroad. It withdrew the threat at the last moment.
Prodi would probably have survived such a desertion, but even the talk of it
just two days after becoming prime minister was a bad omen for future votes
where he will have to rely on coalition loyalty to get legislation past a
hostile opposition.
In his Senate speech, Prodi reiterated Italy would withdraw its more than
2,000 troops from
Iraq before the end of the year, but stressed he would
still pursue a close relationship with the United States in fighting terrorism.
Berlusconi prided himself on his close relationship with
President
George W. Bush, whereas Prodi is keen to see Italy work closer with the
European Union on foreign policy. But the new prime minister said he had
good relations with Washington.
"As president of the (European) Commission, I constructed, together with the
United States, a network of new, strong, serious, transparent relations for the
fight against terrorism."
An Italian general in Iraq, Natalino Madeddu, was quoted in Friday's Corriere
della Sera daily as saying it was "reasonable" to consider a pullout in 60-80
days.
Prodi will face tougher tasks at home, where the economy has stagnated in two
of the last three years and the budget deficit remains stubbornly above the EU
limit of 3 percent of gross domestic product.
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