Mr Prodi's is hoping to keep his disparate coalition together

Romano Prodi can breathe more easily after winning his vote of confidence.

But there is no denying the self-destructive tendencies in his Communist-to-Catholic left-of-centre alliance shown up by the past week's events - and those tensions have not gone away.

They are symbolised by the issue that has become the litmus test of the struggle between secularists and those close to the Catholic Church - the campaign to give greater rights to unmarried and same-sex couples.

Mr Prodi had tried to ignore the matter, to secure the backing of those Catholic senators whose votes he needed in order to survive.

But it has - predictably enough - refused to go away.

Some - including his own equal opportunities minister - are already saying it has to be addressed - and soon.

Others, closer to the Vatican, are saying the plan should be shelved because it will never pass in the Senate.

As if all that was not enough, trades unions have begun flexing their muscles against the government's attempts to reform Italy's outdated and costly pensions system.

Mr Prodi lives to fight another day - but his longer term prognosis still looks unhealthy.