国际英语新闻：Italian PM Berlusconi confident his gov't could survive current political crisis

The Northern League leader ultimately came to an agreement with the premier, after having repeatedly threatened to take to the streets were a caretaker government formed or Berlusconi to ally with the centrists.

Bossi's hard stance on the urgency of an early poll has thus softened, putting an end to the risk of a government collapse.

On the other hand, the former allies led by Fini have shown some overtures to a possible "peace" with Berlusconi, but both mood and party positions tend to change on a daily base.

A definite answer to the survival of Berlusconi's government will come in September, when the premier is expected to present to parliament a 5-point strategic document where he will put a vote of confidence to test the stability of his majority.