Premier Giuseppe Conte won a crunch
confidence vote in the Senate on Tuesday with 156 votes in
favour, 140 against and 16 abstentions.
But the executive fell short of an absolute majority of 161
votes in the Upper House.
Conte's coalition executive was put to confidence votes in
parliament after it was plunged into crisis by ex-premier Matteo
Renzi's Italia Viva (IV) party pulling its support.
It passed a confidence test in the Lower House with an absolute
majority on Monday.
Conte appealed to so-called 'constructor' lawmakers from outside
the ruling coalition to vote for the government and stop it
collapsing in the middle of the COVID-10 pandemic.
Conte told the Senate that the pandemic made it more important
for his government to stay afloat.
"The country has united with the pandemic, with its suffering,"
he said.
"The government's sense of unity has increased. The reasons to
be together have increased".
The centre-right opposition, which has been calling for snap
elections, has said the government remains too weak to
effectively rule the country.
"We'll speak to (President Sergio) Mattarella," League leader
told RAI television.
"We have a government that does not have a majority in the
Senate and it is on its feet thanks to people who have changed
sides".
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