Italy: Berlusconi in Dire Straits | European Journal

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is under unprecedented pressure. He is to face a vote of no confidence in parliament on December 14. What’s more, his former ally Gianfranco Fini is leading the challenge.Berlusconi is facing a wide range of problems. Mara Carfagna, a former showgirl appointed minister for equal opportunities by Berlusconi in 2008, has threatened to resign. Gianfranco Fini, once Berlusconi’s coalition partner, has withdrawn four ministers from the cabinet. Opposition politicians are not quite sure what to think: many are skeptical of Fini’s alleged transformation from neo-fascist to mainstream conservative. But they appear to need him of they are to depose Berlusconi.