Editing Romano Prodi (section)

===Coalition's troubles===
Prodi's government faced a crisis over policies in early 2007, after just nine months of government. Three ministers in Prodi's Cabinet boycotted a vote in January to continue funding for Italian troop deployments in Afghanistan. Lawmakers approved the expansion of the US military base [[Caserma Ederle]] at the end of January, but the victory was so narrow that Deputy Prime Minister Francesco Rutelli criticised members of the coalition who had not supported the government. At around the same time, [[Italian Minister of Justice|Justice Minister]] [[Clemente Mastella]], of the coalition member UDEUR, said he would rather see the government fall than support its unwed couples legislation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6324829.stm|title=Rift threatens Italian coalition|access-date=25 February 2007 |date=2 February 2007 |work=BBC News }}</ref>

Tens of thousands of people marched in [[Vicenza]] against the expansion of Caserma Ederle, which saw the participation of some leading far-left members of the government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6370671.stm|title=Italians march in US base protest|access-date=25 February 2007 |date=17 February 2007 |work=BBC News }}</ref> Harsh debates followed in the Italian Senate on 20 February 2007. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister [[Massimo D'Alema]] declared during an official visit in [[Ibiza]], Spain, that, without a majority on foreign policy affairs, the government would resign. The following day, D'Alema gave a speech at the Senate representing the government, clarifying his foreign policy and asking the [[Italian Senate|Senate]] to vote for or against it. In spite of the fear of many senators that Prodi's defeat would return [[Silvio Berlusconi]] to power, the Senate did not approve a motion backing Prodi's government foreign policy, two votes shy of the required majority of 160.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/italian-pm-prodi-resigns-after-foreign-policy-defeat-1.651945|title=Italian PM Prodi resigns after foreign policy defeat|access-date=25 February 2007 |date=21 February 2007 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

[[File:Prodi Napolitano.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Prodi with President [[Giorgio Napolitano]]]]
After a government meeting on 21 February, Romano Prodi tendered his resignation to the president, [[Giorgio Napolitano]], who cut short an official visit to [[Bologna]] in order to receive the prime minister. Prodi's spokesman indicated that he would only agree to form a new Government "if, and only if, he is guaranteed the full support of all the parties in the majority from now on."<ref name="Italian PM hands in resignation">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/6383051.stm |title=Italian PM hands in resignation |access-date=24 February 2007 |date=21 February 2007 |work=BBC News }}</ref> On 22 February, centre-left coalition party leaders backed a non-negotiable list of twelve political conditions given by Prodi as conditions of his remaining in office. President Napolitano held talks with political leaders on 23 February to decide whether to confirm Prodi's Government, ask Prodi to form a new government or call fresh elections.<ref name="Italian coalition 'to back Prodi'">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6388455.stm |title=Italian coalition 'to back Prodi|access-date=24 February 2007 |date=23 February 2007 |work=BBC News }}</ref>

Following these talks, on 24 February, President Napolitano asked Prodi to remain in office but to submit to a vote of confidence in both houses.<ref name="Italian coalition 'to back Prodi'"/><ref name="Italian PM asked to resume duties">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6391669.stm |title=Italian PM asked to resume duties |access-date=24 February 2007 |date=24 February 2007 |work=BBC News }}</ref> On 28 February, the Senate voted to grant confidence to Prodi's Government. Though facing strong opposition from the centre-right coalition, the vote resulted in a 162–157 victory. Prodi then faced a vote of confidence in the lower house on 2 March, which he won as expected with a large majority of 342–198.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/03/02/italy.prodi.reut/index.html]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On 14 October 2007, Prodi oversaw the merger of two main parties of the Italian centre-left, [[Democrats of the Left]] and [[Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy]], creating the [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]]. Prodi himself led the merger of the two parties, which had been planned over a twelve-year period, and became the first President of the party. He announced his resignation from that post on 16 April 2008, two days after the Democratic Party's defeat in the general election.