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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/berlusconi-makes-plea-ahead-of-vote.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi after delivering his message at the Senate in Rome (AP)" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/min-berlusconi-makes-plea-ahead-of-vote.jpg" alt="Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi after delivering his message at the Senate in Rome (AP)"/></a></p>
<p>Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has pleaded with MPs for his political life on the eve of crucial confidence votes.</p>
<p>He urged them to support him, warning that bringing down his government would be &#8220;folly&#8221; because stability was essential as the country battled an economic crisis.</p>
<p>Mr Berlusconi appealed to rebels who have vowed to try to oust him during Wednesday&#8217;s votes. He offered to negotiate a new agenda that would allow the government to survive until new parliamentary elections are held in 2013, as well as a cabinet reshuffle to give government positions to those who support him in the crucial parliamentary test.</p>
<p>&#8220;The last thing Italy needs is a political crisis,&#8221; Mr Berlusconi argued in a 30-minute speech to the Senate.</p>
<p>He faces votes in both houses of parliament after a dramatic falling-out with his one-time closest ally, Gianfranco Fini, his party&#8217;s co-founder.</p>
<p>Mr Berlusconi, 74, was once immensely popular, but his approval ratings have nose-dived and his political capital diluted amid scandals engulfing his private life, reports of lavish parties and alleged encounters with prostitutes.</p>
<p>Mr Berlusconi based much of his speech on the risks Italy would face in the event of a government downfall.</p>
<p>His government has generally won praise for its reaction to the global financial crisis, steadfastly directed by Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti and including a rigorous austerity package.</p>
<p>Italy has high public debt and recently faced renewed threats of becoming engulfed in the euro zone&#8217;s debt crisis. But the country is still widely viewed as low-risk due to the low level of private debt, relatively sound banking system, and experience in dealing with high public debt levels.</p>
<p>&#8220;If your concern over Italy&#8217;s difficult situation is honest and real, then the only possible way forward is renewing confidence in my government,&#8221; Mr Berlusconi said. Such a vote, he said, &#8220;will be proof of realism and political wisdom.&#8221;</p>
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