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55 percent Italians want Berlusconi to go

By IANS/AKI,

Rome: The popularity of the beleaguered Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has fallen to its lowest level since he was elected for a third term in April 2008.

A majority of Italians (55 percent) say they don’t support his conservative government while 39-41 percent want the media moghul-turned-politician to quit, according Rome-based survey firm IPR Marketing.

Berlusconi, 73, has been facing challenges from growing number of rivals within his own party, while several high-ranking members of the government have resigned amid corruption scandals in recent months.

Since May, Berlusconi has accepted the resignations of two ministers and a deputy finance minister amid allegations of corruption.

In April, the prime minister was engaged in a televised argument with Gianfranco Fini, 58, co-founder of the People of Liberty party.