Italy's upper house of parliament, the Senate, today approved the conservative government's 25-billion-euro (31.8-billion-dollar) austerity package, despite considerable opposition to the cuts voiced in recent weeks, according to dpa. Even some members of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's coalition government had protested the cuts. In a bid to ensure that the unpopular measures received support from his allies - the legislation had become stalled by more than 1,200 proposed amendments - Berlusconi put the package to a vote of confidence, meaning that in case of defeat, the government would have been forced to resign. Thursday's vote resulted in 170 votes in favour and 136 against. Since taking office in May 2008, the billionaire-turned-politician has relied on more than 30 votes of confidence to steamroll legislation through parliament. For final approval, the austerity package will have to win support - again in a vote of confidence - in the lower house Chamber of Deputies before the end of the month. Regional authorities have been particularly vocal in their condemnation of the cuts which Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti says are essential to keep public spending in check. Observers have pointed out that given Italy's relatively contained budget deficit - 5.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of 2009 - the proposed cuts for 2011-12 are not as drastic as those implemented by Greece, Ireland or Spain. But they say Tremonti was prompted to act due to concern that Italy could struggle to maintain payments on its debt which is projected by some economists to rise to 120 per cent of GDP by the end of 2011. The voting on the austerity measures comes as Berlusconi faces a mid-term crisis triggered by increasing dissent within his People of Freedom party and a series of corruption scandals that have embroiled several of the premier's top allies. Late on Wednesday Treasure Undersecretary Nicola Cosentino announced his resignation following days of pressure from the opposition but also some other members of Berlusconi's cabinet. -- SPA
