(VOVworld) - Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta's coalition government survived a confidence vote Wednesday by a healthy margin, with 235 senators voting in favor to 70 against.

The threat receded shortly before the vote when former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi unexpectedly dropped his bid to topple the government, saying his party's lawmakers would support the motion. The result has helped Italy escape a serious political crisis looming since Berlusconi on Saturday ordered ministers from his party to pull out of the fragile coalition government. The resignations were not approved by Prime Minister Letta.

The same day, Prime Minister Letta’s coalition gained the support of the lower chamber with a large majority of 435 yes votes to 162 no votes, hours after the Senate gave its approval.