AMATO SUCCEEDED IN FORMING THE GOVERNMENT

With 319 votes in favour and 298 against the new government led by Giuliano Amato obtains 10 votes more than foreseen and 4 votes more than half.

The result allows Giuliano Amato to get the better over the oppositions that on the eve of the confidence vote jeered at him calling him the "grave-digger of a dying majority".

The majority was divided until the eve of the vote: Antonio di Pietro quit the Democrats and the Verdi strongly opposed the change of ministers decided by the Premier and were uncertain to the last on what to do.

Amato took the floor before the eve of the vote and, with a speech that surprised many for the energy and the ideal impetus, succeeded in strengthening the ranks of the majority and sew up the sense of the coalition.

At the end the result was of good omen for a majority that, however, has to face a year in which, as Amato recalled, it will be able to gather the results of the reforms carried out in these years, but will also have to face the opposition united and aware of having on its side the majority of voters and determined to carry out 12 months of electoral campaign.

The Amato government is a continuity government; among the new ministers mention must be made of Umberto Veronesi, the famous oncologist, to the Ministry of Health and Tullio de Mauro, one of the greatest Italian linguists, to the Ministry of Education.