Budget showdown in Italian Parliament

The Italian government won a grueling vote of confidence on its 2019 budget in the upper house in the early hours of Sunday, as it races to get the package approved before a year-end deadline.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte with his two deputy premiers Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio Source: AP

The budget now has to be approved by the lower house of parliament by Dec 31 so it can take effect from the start of the new year.

The government of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League won the vote 167-78, with three abstentions.

Last Wednesday, the European Commission reached a deal with Italy over its 2019 budget after months of verbal sparring, avoiding disciplinary steps against Rome.

But the changes led to extensive re-drafting, and on Saturday a final text only arrived in the Senate at the last minute, triggering uproar from opposition lawmakers.

Our analysis with journalist, Carlo Fusi.

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