Italy reform deal puts Berlusconi back centre stage / Italian PM Enrico Letta’s government in danger of collapse

The disgraced Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi returned to the political scene in January 2014 after a tax fraud conviction, striking a deal with Matteo Renzi the leader of the largest centre-left party on electoral reform that could give Italy badly needed stability.

But the agreement agreed on the 18 January 2014 between Mr Berlusconi, still head of the centre-right Forza Italia party, and Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi divided the governing coalition.

Reports on the 13 February 2014 echoed the division within the centre-left party after the Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta defied pressure to resign in order to let Mr. Renzi form a government.

• Primary Source

Reuters, 19.01.14: Berlusconi and Italy's left head strike electoral reform deal http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/19/us-italy-electoral-idUSBREA0I09420140119

ESO: Background information: Senate to oust Berlusconi as Letta wins confidence vote http://www.europeansources.info/record/senate-to-oust-berlusconi-as-letta-wins-confidence-vote/

ESO: Background information: Italy split spells setback for Berlusconi http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-split-spells-setback-for-berlusconi/

ESO: Background information: Italy's Matteo Renzi elected new leader of the left http://www.europeansources.info/record/italys-matteo-renzi-elected-new-leader-of-the-left/

ESO: Background information: Italian coalition eyes speedy electoral reform http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-coalition-eyes-speedy-electoral-reform/

France24, 19.01.14: Italy’s Berlusconi returns to strike deal on electoral reform http://www.france24.com/en/20140119-italy-berlusconi-deal-electoral-reform/

The Local.it, 19.01.14: Berlusconi heckled at talks with leftist leader http://www.thelocal.it/20140119/berlusconi-heckled-at-talks-with-centre-left-leader

Euronews, 21.01.14: Italian centre-left Democratic party in turmoil over voting reform http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/21/italian-centre-left-democratic-party-in-turmoil-over-voting-reform/

FT, 21.01.14: Pact with Berlusconi can move Italy forward (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE136965-Pact-with-Berlusconi-can-move-Italy-forward

La Repubblica, 23.01.14: Berlusconi pact embarassing for his critics (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE137069-Berlusconi-pact-embarassing-for-his-critics

LSE EuroppBlog, 24.01.14: Italy’s new electoral law proposal is unlikely to make Italian governments more democratic or stable http://bit.ly/1c8OBFg

Corriere della Sera, 22.01.14: Election Reform - Italicum Bill Goes Before Parliament http://www.corriere.it/14_gennaio_22/election-reform-italicum-bill-goes-before-parliament-6b21346e-8368-11e3-9ab1-851e2181383b.shtml

EurActiv, 04.02.14: Poll shows Italy's reform plan could favour Berlusconi-led centre right http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/poll-shows-italys-reform-plan-fa-news-533241

The Local.it, 22.01.14: Can Renzi's new law revamp Italian politics? http://www.thelocal.it/20140122/can-renzis-new-law-revamp-italian-politics

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