Monti government at risk after Berlusconi withdraws support

On Thursday the PdL deserted two confidence votes in the Senate and in the House respectively on a government economic-development bill and on measures to reduce the costs of Italy's local and national political system.

The move, PdL secretary Angelino Alfano said on Friday, is poised to pull the plug on the Monti-led administration to provoke early elections in which Berlusconi would stand for a fourth term as Italian prime minister.

Berlusconi's decision to withdraw the support to Monti's government followed a a television interview on Thursday in which Industry Minister Corrado Passera expressed strong reservations about a return to politics by the 76-year-old media tycoon.

During his thirteen months in power Monti has introduced austerity measures that have boosted investors' faith in Italy's ability to pull through the eurozone crisis.

However the same measures have also worsen the recession the country slipped into in 2011 and contributed to unemployment reaching a record high approaching three million.

Berlusconi has changed his mind several times in recent months over whether to return to front-line politics, with his centre-right People of Freedom party struggling in the opinion polls and ravaged by internal divisions.

By scoring not even 14 per cent, the PdL posted its lowest-ever level of support in an opinion poll released Friday while Democratic Party was at around 30 per cent.

Some are astounded to see Berlusconi ready to play all cards to snatch another electoral victory while the country struggles to recover from nearly two decades of poor governance largely under his leadership.