Rome, Italy (AHN) – Italian Prime Minister Minister Silvio Berlusconi has won a key confidence vote in Parliament, securing the support of 342 out of 617 votes. Some 275 parliamentarians voted against his proposals, which he had earlier proclaimed, would not be undermined by the current conflict in his ruling coalition.

The confidence vote win was important for Berlusconi government because a defeat could have forced him step down in the middle of his term and would have called early elections.

The victory came to the Italian leader only after 35 dissident center-right parliamentarians announced their support to his coalition on the basis Berlusconi’s reconciliatory speech before the vote.

Welcoming the outcome, outspoken Berlusconi praised himself and claimed that there was “no alternative” to his leadership.

During his speech, he also commended Rome’s decision of not following its eurozone members’ footsteps in deploying the fiscal stimulus.

In 2009, Italy’s budget deficit was recorded at 5.3% of GDP. However, it was comparatively less than the average budget deficit of the 16-nation zone.

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