Berlusconi insists he has the support of the Italian Parliament.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi insisted his government has sufficient support in Parliament to implement urgently needed measures to save the country from financial disaster. In a political meeting he attended via audio, Berlusconi said his government "has the numbers" to pass reforms that, he promised, will boost Italy's stagnant economy and control government debt. Berlusconi also rejected calls for him to step down to make way for what he called a "puppet" prime minister.

Recently, defections have been weakening the power of Berlusconi's coalition government, but the prime minister maintains that it is better for the country that he remain in government rather than hold early elections. If Berlusconi's base does not gain support in the vote on economic measures, the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, may decide that it is time for a new government and possibly expand the coalition. This information comes from the Associated Press.