Trouble in paradise
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Italy may face early elections after a meeting of party leaders went awry Thursday night. After a falling out between Berlusconi and his party's co-founder, the country watches as the government teeters on the brink of collapse.
Co-founder of the People of Liberty party in Italy, Gianfranco Fini, has been accused of destructive criticism and labelled a traitor by the man he founded his party with … prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The 73-year old prime minister asked for Fini's resignation as speaker of the lower house of parliament after a meeting of party leaders on Thursday night led to a row between the two men.
In a televised broadcast, Berlusconi said, "The positions of Mr Fini are absolutely incompatible with the founding principles of the People of Liberty Party."
However, according to Italian media, Fini and Berlusconi's antagonism has long been obvious.
Gianfranco Fini has refused to resign and quickly moved to form a new political bloc made up of his allies from both houses of parliament.
In the past, the two politicians disagreed on several issues, including immigration policy.
Fini also criticized the morality and legality of Berlusconi's government.
However, the Italian prime minister has insisted that his two-year-old government is not at risk.
Yet, with dwindling poll ratings, an unpopular austerity package finalised this week and recent corruption scandals that led to the resignation of two ministers, Berlusconi may be forced to call an early election before the end of his term in 2013.
