Italian Senate vote gives boost to Renzi electoral law deal

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi speaks during the Transformational Leadership event in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 21, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Senate approved an amendment to a new electoral law on Wednesday, paving the way to passage of a cornerstone of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's reform programme in the upper house next week.

Renzi and centre-right opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi agreed last year to jointly back electoral changes and constitutional reforms to foster more stability and efficiency in long-dysfunctional Italian politics, but the right-left pact has encountered increasing opposition from within both parties.