The Italian government is reportedly in danger of being pulled apart and may see fresh elections as the party of Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gets ready to pull out all five of its ministers from the shaky coalition government.
The latest development comes following worsening relations of Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) with current Prime Minister Enrico Letta's centre-left grouping.
According to the BBC, Berlusconi had already threatened to withdraw his ministers if he is expelled from the Senate for tax fraud, with PDL objecting to a planned increase in sales tax, which is part of a government policy to stop Italy's large debts.
The report mentioned that the crisis could lead to fresh elections amid economic problems with Letta saying that he would quit unless his government won a confidence vote, which is due next week in the Parliament.
Angry at the news of possible resignations, Letta accused Berlusconi of telling a 'huge lie' in using the sales tax as an alibi for his own personal issues, saying that everyone will have to assume responsibility for their actions before the nation in the Parliament.
Reacting against Letta's statement, Interior Minister and PDL Secretary Angelino Alfano accused the prime minister of 'a grave violation of the pacts that this government is founded on'.
The report mentioned that Italian President Giorgio Napolitano would become a key player now as constitutionally it is his responsibility to decide whether Parliament should be dissolved, although the report suggested that Napolitano may attempt to create a new governing coalition from factions in the current Parliament.