The conservative government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday won its first vote of confidence in the upper house Senate, more than a month after its victory in general elections.
Of the senators who took part in the vote at the start of the legislature, 175 voted for the government, 133 voted against and five abstained.
Two senators did not take part in the vote.
Berlusconi's House of Freedoms coalition has a total 177 seats in the 315-member Senate.
Italy's lower house is expected to vote in the government on Thursday -- ROME (AFP)
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