Berlusconi's approval rating up

ROME, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The popularity of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and many members of his Cabinet rose in October.

The survey by IPR Marketing for the Rome daily newspaper La Repubblica found that the approval rating for Berlusconi's government remained steady at 54 percent, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Berlusconi's approval was higher at 62 percent from 60 percent in September. Eight out of 21 members of the Cabinet had ratings that improved with those who had been on television a lot enjoying the greatest popularity.

The governing People of Freedom Party had an approval rating of 54 percent, up 1 percentage point and a record for the alliance of three right-wing parties -- Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, the National Alliance and Christian Democrats. The allied Northern League had an approval rating of 30 percent.

The popularity of the Democratic Party, the largest opposition group, dropped 1 point to 29 percent, a low for the party.