Italy's Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday won a vote of confidence in Parliament on measures aimed at boosting the country's wavering economy.
The prime minister's success in the lower house came after his center-right coalition party suffered two important local election losses and was defeated on referendums on nuclear power, water privatization and trial immunity for government leaders.
Berlusconi was to address the Senate later Tuesday to lay out his government's strategy for the rest of his term.
Any future plan is expected to include political concessions to his coalition partner, the Northern League, as Berlusconi prepares to push through tough austerity measures aimed at reducing Italy's budget deficit.
Berlusconi has been hit by a series of corruption scandals, a weak economy and a sexual controversy over his alleged paid relationship with an underage dancer.
He has warned against the financial dangers if his embattled coalition government were to fall.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
