Berlusconi government ally flexes its muscles

Italy's interior minister, a member of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Northern League ally, on Friday warned that his party was playing a critical role in the country's centre-right alliance. The Northern League's annual meeting on Sunday would be a "very important meeting because many things that will be said will certainly influence the political scene because the League is still key," said Maroni. Italian media said League leader Umberto Bossi would be the only speaker at the conference and would present a list of the party's demands to be met in exchange for keeping Berlusconi in power. The Northern League party is Silvio Berlusconi's last major political ally and its votes keep the legally-embattled prime minister in power. His government has suffered two drubbings at the polls in the past month. The Northern League's electorate wants more money to be invested in boosting Italy's near-zero growth economy instead of overseas military missions.