Premier Silvio Berlusconi is not looking to squabble with his UDC centrist allies despite their repeated criticism of his policies and hints that the centre right may need a new leader, his spokesman said on Thursday.
Paolo Bonaiuti also dismissed press reports alleging that the premier had told other allies the centre right needed to "snare" the UDC forcing them to leave the alliance. Bonaiuti said the reports were totally made up and aimed at "creating friction in the alliance" whereas Berlusconi is always "looking to unite, never to spoil or divide."
The premier's spokesman also referred to a front-page letter by UDC leader Marco Follini published by Italy's leading daily, Corriere della Sera, outlining his party's policy proposals.
Follini admitted that his party has problems convincing the rest of the centre right that urgent changes are needed if the coalition wants to win the next general elections in the spring of 2006.
"But I must add that they have similar difficulties convincing us that everything is going well," he said. The UDC's proposals must be reviewed with the rest of the alliance, said Bonaiuti, stressing that consensus was needed.
He reminded Follini that the government's positive achievements were "not the result of proposals forwarded by a single group but were part of a programme agreed to at the start by everyone and carried out by the entire coalition."
The premier has increasingly lost his temper lately over repeated suggestions by the centrists that voters who swept the coalition to power in 2006 have become disenchanted with his leadership.
On Wednesday evening, referring to his success in getting his fractious coalition to agree to approve proposals to Bank of Italy reforms, the premier referred to himself as "saint Berlusconi" who had performed "yet another miracle."
On Monday, Berlusconi said his decision to lead the coalition in the next elections was "an enormous personal sacrifice."
"But it would senseless not to do it...especially as I don't see an alternative candidate with the proper qualifications among the allies."
