Paolo Gentiloni wins Senate confidence

Paolo Gentiloni, Italian Prime Minister

The government of Premier Paolo Gentiloni of the Partito Democratico (PD) cleared a Senate confidence vote on Wednesday with 169 in favor and 99 against.

The former foreign minister's "government of responsibility" had
also won a confidence vote in the Lower House on Tuesday. Some opposition groups that wanted fresh elections have protested that the new government is a "carbon copy" of that of the previous premier Matteo Renzi. Renzi quit after losing a Constitutional reform referendum.


The new government was put together in record time so that Gentiloni can attend an EU summit Thursday in the fullness of his powers. Renzi's government won the confidence of the Senate in February 2014 with the same number of votes in favor as those registered on Wednesday.