Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Tuesday won a confidence vote in the Senate.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) leaves after a session at the Senate in Rome December 14, 2010.  (Xinhua/Reuters)
The result of the confidence vote came out as 162 "yes", 135 "no" and 11"abstentions."` At the same time, a non-confidence vote would begin later at the House, the result of which would finally decide the fate of the prime minister.

While Berlusconi enjoyed the victory at the Senate, chances are much lower at the House where he does not hold a solid majority. His survival would be linked to a few couple of votes of advantage.

Berlusconi would be forced to step down, should he fail to gain support of a majority of lawmakers in both branches of the Parliament.

At a parallel speech delivered at both the Senate and the House before the votes, the prime minister appealed to all moderates to come over to his side and strengthen the government agenda.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet