This could be Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's last day in the job as politicians prepare to give final approval to a package of austerity measures.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has survived a confidence vote in the Italian Parliament.

It is feared new and bigger euro area bailouts may soon be needed.

Italy's Finance Minister is to hold talks in Luxemburg this morning with the Eurozone Chief Jean Claude Junker, as the country faces continuing pressure on international money markets due to its debt levels.

The Italian parliament rebuffed a request by prosecutors to search some of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s properties as part of a prostitution probe, giving the embattled leader a much-needed victory.

THE Italian Parliament elected an 80-year-old former Communist to be president yesterday, paving the way for a government headed by centre-left leader Romano Prodi to be formed within days.

The Italian Parliament today elected the centre-left candidate – an 80-year-old former Communist – as the country’s next president, paving the way for a Romano Prodi government, an unofficial count indicated.

The Italian parliament today resumed voting to elect the country’s new president, but no winner was expected to emerge from the second round of voting as the two political coalitions still had not agreed on a candidate.

Italy’s Parliament today resumed business for the first time since Romano Prodi’s coalition narrowly won elections earlier this month, with legislative sessions that will test his partners’ ability to stay united.

ITALIAN prosecutors have requested that the estranged husband of Britain's culture Secretary Tessa Jowell stands trial for corruption alongside Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Italian premier Berlusconi provoked uproar in the European Parliament today by telling a German critic that he should star as a Nazi concentration camp guard in a film.

The Italian parliament today gave final approval to lifting a constitutional ban that kept the male descendants of Italy’s last king out of their homeland, paving a way for their return after 56 years of exile.