Silvio Berlusconi wins confidence vote

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday easily won a confidence vote on a package of measures to boost growth, overcoming his first parliamentary hurdle since two crushing electoral losses in the past month.       

The motion in the lower house of parliament passed with 317 votes in favour, 293 against and two abstentions.

The victory was expected after Berlusconi's northern league ally promised its support, but the premier's centre-right coalition remains in a precarious position as it battles flagging voter support, infighting and a faltering economy.