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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Italian PM Prodi Resigns

He loses confidence vote in the Senate

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(Newser) – The fat lady has sung for Italian PM Romano Prodi. After losing a confidence vote in the Senate, Prodi resigned today, the BBC reports. President Giorgio Napolitano now has to make the decision of calling a snap election or appointing a caretaker government. Former PM Berlusconi's center-right coalition would be likely to win an upcoming election, say experts.

Before the vote, Prodi pleaded for the Senate not to create a "political vacuum" by defeating his government. "Stopping the government's work is a luxury Italy cannot afford," said Prodi. Meanwhile, most leaders agree that a major reform of Italy's electoral system is needed, as the current one grants too much power to relatively tiny parties.

People on a truck, holding Italian Fiamma Tricolore right-wing party flags, celebrate downtown Rome, after a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled Premier Prodi lost a Senate confidence vote Thursday night which obliges him to resign and bring an end to his 20-month government....
People on a truck, holding Italian Fiamma Tricolore right-wing party flags, celebrate downtown Rome, after a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled Premier Prodi lost...   (Associated Press)
Italian opposition senators celebrate with champagne after a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled Premier Prodi lost a Senate confidence vote Thursday night which obliges him to resign and bring an end to his 20-month government. The center-left government fell four votes short of...
Italian opposition senators celebrate with champagne after a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled Premier Prodi lost a Senate confidence vote Thursday night which...   (Associated Press)
Italian premier Romano Prodi looks on, prior to a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled premier Prodi appealed to the Senate to back his government Thursday, in an attempt to keep his center-left coalition from collapsing. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italian premier Romano Prodi looks on, prior to a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled premier Prodi appealed to the Senate to back his government Thursday, in an...   (Associated Press)
Italian premier Romano Prodi gestures, prior to a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled premier Prodi appealed to the Senate to back his government Thursday, in an attempt to keep his center-left coalition from collapsing. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italian premier Romano Prodi gestures, prior to a confidence vote in the Senate, in Rome, Thursday Jan. 24, 2008. Embattled premier Prodi appealed to the Senate to back his government Thursday, in an...   (Associated Press)
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