Berlusconi faces tough confidence vote

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to undergo a crucial parliamentary vote of confidence on Tuesday which could trigger his fall from office.

Experts believe that the incumbent prime minister would face a no confidence motion in the lower house brought by the opposition and centre-right deputies loyal to Fini and a confidence vote in the Senate.

However, Berlusconi says he is confident he will win.

Only days before the confidence vote, Berlusconi's party launched a campaign to win over lawmakers.

The defection of some MPs to his party has led some to speak of an indecent vote buying market.

Prosecutors have since launched a probe to investigate the allegations which have been swiftly denied by lawmakers close to Berlusconi.

Despite this, a crowd of 100,000 people gathered in Rome on Sunday to rally against the Italian leader.

If Berlusconi is defeated in either of the confidence votes due in both houses of parliament, he will lose power and may be forced to resign before his mandate ends in 2013.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano will then call for snap elections.

During recent months, Berlusconi's popularity ratings have dropped below 40 percent due to his government's austerity package, infighting, and corruption scandals, ITAR-TASS reports.