Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been speaking in the Senate ahead of a confidence vote in his government.<br /><br />Saying that Italy was at a “crossroads”, Renzi stressed the need for electoral reform. He added that the country has been shackled by bureaucracy for too long.<br /><br />Renzi took over the leadership of the Democratic Party (PD) in December, and was appointed prime minister on February 22 after pushing party rival Enrico Letta to resign.<br /><br />His government is expected to win the confidence vote in the 320-seat Senate. Renzi is backed by his PD party, the small centre-right NCD party, centrists and several other Senators.<br /><br />But if Renzi were to fall below the 173 votes secured by his predecessor Letta, his authority would be weakened from the start.
