ROME, April 19 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi surprised the government Tuesday, announcing a make-or-break confidence vote will be conducted Thursday.
As the country grapples with a growing financial deficit and European Union disapproval, support for Berlusconi's four-party, center-right coalition has been eroding quickly in recent days.
Since a mini-rebellion by the Union of Christian Democrats Friday, it was widely thought Berlusconi would resign Monday, enabling him to make a major reshuffle.
Instead, he decided to test resolve with a confidence vote scheduled Thursday, the BBC said.
Berlusconi leads Italy's longest-serving government since the World War II, and is determined to see out his full five-year term, which would run through May of next year.
If he fails the non-confidence vote, the country could be going to the polls as soon as June, the report said.
In 14 regional elections within the last two weeks, the center-right coalition has lost 12 seats.
