Prodi's political survival in the balance

Embattled Italian Premier Romano Prodi appealed today for backing in a confidence vote needed to keep his centre-left coalition from collapsing.

Mr Prodi will have to resign if he loses the vote in the Senate, the Italian parliament’s upper chamber, tonight.

If he does political action could be paralysed for weeks until a new coalition can be formed or new elections held.

Such a break “is a luxury that Italy cannot allow itself,” the premier said. But he appeared to be a few votes short of the majority needed for his 20-month-old government’s survival.

“Prodi is defying maths in the Senate, but he’s two votes short,” the Italian news agency ANSA predicted .

The premier, known for his determination and unemotional speaking style, made a straightforward appeal to the senators at the start of the session: “I ask each of you for your confidence (vote) so we can resume, with renewed vigour ... a process of broad reforms which our country urgently needs.”

Among other reforms, he was referring to an overhaul of the electoral system, which is widely blamed for giving small parties disproportionate weight in fragile coalitions and contributing to the nation’s chronic political instability.

After his brief speech, senators began announcing whether they would vote for or against the government. One senator, Domenico Fisichella, a defector from his coalition, pleaded with Prodi to call off the vote at the last minute.