How did Silvio Berlusconi lose his parliamentary majority in November 2011?

On November 8, 2011, Silvio Berlusconi effectively lost his parliamentary majority during a key budget vote that was widely interpreted as an unofficial vote of confidence.12

At the time, Italy was struggling amid the euro zone debt crisis, and Berlusconi’s administration faced significant pressure due to a lack of political will to enact economic reforms. Following the loss of his majority, Umberto Bossi, the leader of Berlusconi’s main coalition partner, the Northern League, urged the prime minister to step down.1

Berlusconi met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano that same day and announced his intention to resign once parliament approved his proposed budget reforms. Final approval was granted on November 12, 2011, and Berlusconi resigned hours later.12