Rome, Nov 11, SPA -- Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government onFriday easily won a confidence vote in the Senate on thegovernment's ¤22 billion (US$25.7 billion) budget for nextyear. The government had called the confidence vote to ensureswift passage of the law, which includes revenue-raisingmeasures and spending cuts. If the government had lost thevote, it would have been forced to resign, according to a report of The Associated Press. The measures are part of the government's effort to cutthe budget deficit to 3.8 percent of gross domestic productnext year, as agreed with the European Union. The European Commission has given Italy until 2007 tobring its deficit back to the 3 percent limit required bythe EU's Stability and Growth Pact. Italy breached it in2003 and 2004. The budget deficit is targeted at 4.3 percent of GDP thisyear. Italian governments frequently resort to confidence votesto force through legislation by closing government ranksand brushing aside amendments. The budget must still be approved by the Chamber ofDeputies, Italy's lower house of parliament. Berlusconi's coalition enjoys a comfortable majority inboth houses of parliament. The vote in the Senate was 158in favor and 96 against. The government must approve its 2006 budget by the end ofthe year. --SPA1447 Local Time 1147 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/301878