Italy government wins confidence vote on bid to bolster battered banks

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi speaks condemning the attacks in Belgium, during a news conference at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, March 22, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's government won a confidence vote on Wednesday on a decree aimed at helping the country's feeble banking system, including state-backed guarantees to help sell bad loans.

Lower house deputies voted 351-180 in favour of the package put forward by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who would have had to step down in the event he lost the vote.