Italian Premier Silvo Berlusconi arrived back in Rome from holiday Friday for a summit of his People of Freedom (PdL) party aimed at appeasing rebels who split last month after House Speaker Gianfranco Fini was ejected. The premier, who has downplayed threats to the government and denied plans to push for early elections, was in buoyant mood as he arrived in the capital after two weeks at his Sardinian villa.

Asked how long the summit might last, he quipped: "You never know with politicians". The summit aims to nail down four flagship policies, on taxes, judicial reform, boosting the southern economy and federalism, to convince enough supporters of Fini, who formed his own Future and Freedom (FLI) groups after his ouster from the PdL, to continue to back the government. The new platform would reportedly be put to a confidence vote in September to give new life to the government which took power in 2008. Without the Fini loyalists, who have so far been abstaining in key votes, the government no longer has a majority in the House. Several FLI doves said Thursday they would support Berlusconi in line with the mandate they received from PdL voters but a foundation close to Fini, Farefuturo, denounced a continuing campaign against the Speaker mounted by a paper owned by Berlusconi’s brother. Il Giornale has kept up a barrage against Fini in connection with an allegedly shady real estate deal in Monte Carlo and on Thursday Farefuturo said the "Berlusconian character assassination must stop". The PdL’s key ally, the populist Northern League, saw storm clouds on the horizon. League leader Umberto Bossi said he thought a snap election was now "inevitable" and even said he could call the month, "either November or December".

"The car is running towards elections (and) it’s no longer possible to go on like this," said the outspoken Bossi, who is known for his political savvy. According to press reports, Berlusconi needs the support of just 12 FLI doves to make sure the government doesn’t fall in a confidence vote in the House. Analysts say Berlusconi, despite falling popularity ratings, would benefit from calling an election before the end of the legislature in 2013. Any decision on going to the country is up to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano whom critics have tried to portray as favouring a so-called "technical" government in place of Berlusconi to reform the voting system ahead of an election at a later date. This is the solution favoured by the fractious and divided centre left, which is running low in the opinion polls despite a series of scandals that have come close to touching the heart of government. But PdL whips insisted this week: "It’s either Berlusconi or early elections".