May 15, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

ROME, May 14: The new right-wing government of Silvio Berlusconi, who is embarking on a third stint as prime minister, easily won a first vote of confidence in parliament on Wednesday. The vote in the Chamber of Deputies passed by 335 votes to 275. Berlusconi now faces a similar ballot on Thursday in the Senate, where his coalition also enjoys a strong majority following elections in April.

“From our side there will never be a rejection in principle to positive proposals by the opposition,” the 71-year-old Berlusconi vowed on Wednesday, one day after reaching out in his keynote speech to parliament.

The speech was hailed by the Italian press, with the left-leaning La Repubblica daily headlining “An Ecumenical Berlusconi” and Corriere della Sera describing it as a “positive surprise.” “I am aware of the difficulties we face and that require a new approach without taking empty and knee-jerk positions,” Berlusconi said.

The media tycoon, who had tempestuous relations with his centre-left predecessor Romano Prodi, shook hands with Democratic Party (PD) leader Walter Veltroni.

Veltroni said that although his party would not cast “yes” ballots in the vote of confidence, it would “agree with all measures that it saw as correct.” But former anti-corruption prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, head of the small Italy of Values party allied with the PD, told parliament his formation would not be caught in the right’s “spider’s web.” On Tuesday, Di Pietro had likened Berlusconi’s ouverture to a “wolf reaching out to a lamb.” Berlusconi pledged on Tuesday to place top priority on reviving Italy’s moribund economy.

In the face of a growth forecast of just 0.6 per cent this year, Berlusconi vowed to reduce public debt, lower the tax burden on families and business, improve training, renew infrastructure and help develop the ever-struggling south of the country.

He also vowed to bolster law and order.

Berlusconi’s forces took a hard line on crime and illegal immigration during the election campaign, highlighting reports alleging that various offences, especially rape, involved Romanian immigrants.

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, a member of the anti-immigration, Euro-sceptic Northern League — a junior coalition partner — is finalising proposals to crack down on clandestine immigration.

Berlusconi also said that airline Alitalia would recover from its deep financial crisis without being nationalised or sold off cheaply. The struggling carrier will be rescued by an Italian consortium, he said, a vow that he made repeatedly during the election campaign.—AFP