ITALY: PROTESTS AS PREMIER PRODI LOOSES CONFIDENCE VOTE

(9 Oct 1998) Italian/Eng/Nat
Premier Romano Prodi's center-left coalition lost a parliamentary confidence vote by a single vote today.
Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro asked Prodi to stay on as caretaker premier while the head of state decides whether to call early elections or ask someone else to be premier.
The outcome ended the second-longest serving government in Italy since World War II.
As soon as the news was out crowds of shouting protesters and Communist Party members gathered outside Italy's parliament building.
SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
"You've stolen, we've made so many sacrifices, these dirty people, bastards."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
The crisis was sparked when the Communist Refoundation party, led by Fausto Bertinotti, decided over the weekend to withdraw support for Prodi.
Prodi's coalition has relied on the Communists in the lower Chamber of Deputies for a majority throughout his two and a half year term.
He was forced to call the confidence vote to determine whether his coalition still
commanded a majority.
SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
"It is a big success for us. That was all we were looking for. That was our aim. We are really happy because this government didn't have any reason to exist.
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop Communist Party Member
To woo the Communists, Prodi yesterday stood back from endorsing NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia without specific backing from the U-N Security Council.
But it wasn't enough.
The communists under Bertinotti said the proposed 1999 budget did not do enough to stimulate jobs.
They are especially worried about Italy's lesser developed south, where the jobless rate runs about double the national average of 12.5 percent.
SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
"If they want to do a moderate budget, you can't do it in the majority that there was before. If you pursue reformist policies there is nothing to do about it, you have to negotiate with the Refounded communist party. Goodbye."
SUPER CAPTION: Fausto Bertinotti, Refounded Communist Party leader
For some there was no reason to celebrate.
SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
"Dirty cow of Fini, sold, you're sold."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
The swing vote came from Prodi's own coalition.
A defecting deputy from Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini's tiny Italian Renewal party made the difference.
SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
"The government has fallen and with it all the hopes of the Italians to have finally a change and a new renewal."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
To win a confidence vote, a government needs the support of at least half the house plus one vote majority.
That one vote was too elusive for Premier Prodi on Friday.
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