Prodi keeps job as prime minister but faces vote

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2007

ROME (AFP) — Romano Prodi will remain as Italy's prime minister but must face a confidence vote in parliament, President Giorgio Napolitano announced Saturday in a move to end a three-day-old political crisis.

"It seemed clear that there was no concrete alternative (to a vote of confidence), especially in the Senate," where Prodi's nine-party coalition has only a one-seat advantage, the president said.

The 67-year-old Prodi, who offered to resign Wednesday after only nine months in office, is likely to face the confidence vote on Thursday, Italian

media said.

While the Senate vote will be on a knife edge, Prodi is assured of

prevailing in the lower house, where he has a built-in 30-seat majority.

Napolitano blamed the political crisis...