BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has won a confidence vote from the Senate as his approval rating falls dangerously low. The vote was on an unpopular 25 billion euro austerity package to get Italy's budget back in the black.
The survival of Berlusconi's government has been threatened by a corruption scandal and an open rift with his coalition partner Gianfranco Fini.
In Rome there were many disapproving voices.
Gianni Bozzi, Rome resident, said, "I hope this government will fall, I stand on the other side and I hope the vote will be against the survival of this government. I think this government should fall because there is too much talking and not enough doing."
It didn't fall as Berlusconi still commands a large majority in parliament.
Using the confidence vote to pass legislation also forces internal dissenters into line.
The austerity budget which includes pay cuts in the public sector and drastic reduction to regional funding is a trend across Europe.
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