Berlusconi split with ally erodes once-comfortable majority

Fini described their split as an 8220;ugly chapter8221; for Italian politics and vowed to stand up for 8220;public ethics8221;.

The defection of the 32 PDL deputies,who are calling their new parliamentary group Future and Freedom for Italy,leaves a significant dent in Berlusconi8217;s parliamentary coalition.

It will make him even more reliant on the support of the 59 deputies for the anti-immigration Northern League and up to two dozen other MPs who usually vote with the centre-right.

The 73-year-old Berlusconi,in power for a third time since elections in 2008,had late yesterday demanded that Fini leave his post as speaker.

But in a brief statement today,Fini confirmed he had refused to stand down and he was determined to defend the rule of law at a time when several high-ranking members of Berlusconi8217;s government are embroiled in scandal.

Fini,58,said he would defend legality 8220;in the fullest sense of the term.8221;

Millions of 8220;honest PDL voters8230; do not understand why in our party the protection of civil liberties,a sacrosanct principle,too often is a pretext for impunity,8221; Fini said.

Animosity has been building between the flamboyant Berlusconi and Fini for months,erupting in a public spat in April when the speaker said dissent should be allowed within the PDL.

The defections lower the number of PDL lawmakers to 239 out of the 630-seat parliament.