The government of Prodi, 67, had to resign under law after nine months in office Wednesday when three of nine parties in the ruling coalition in the Italian Senate rejected the government's foreign policy, refusing to support Italy's continued participation in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and the expansion of a U.S. base in Italy.
"Whatever the developments of this [government] crisis, the opinion of voters who chose to support the ruling center-left coalition 10 months ago must be respected," said Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the International Affairs Committee in the lower house of the Russian parliament.
The foreign policy program presented by Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema was two votes short of the required 160.
"A government formed by the center-left coalition must remain in power in Italy until the next parliamentary elections," the Russian legislator said, but added that the current government reshuffles were Italy's internal affair.
Kosachev expressed the hope that the crisis would be overcome quickly. "Russia is interested in Italy as a stable partner with a strong government, relying on parliament's support and voters' opinion," he said.
Kosachev said Russia had previously managed to maintain good relations with Italy despite changes of power.
"No dramatic shifts occurred after the Berlusconi Cabinet was replaced by Prodi's team, which has demonstrated that Russia can cooperate with any government in Italy," he said, putting it down to the countries' shared interests, irrespective of politics.
The ruling coalition in Italy split over the Afghanistan issue, with the Communist Refoundation Party, the Party of Italian Communists and the Federation of the Greens favoring the withdrawal of Italian troops.
D'Alema made Afghanistan the key point of his speech in parliament Wednesday, saying Italy had to stay in the country to meet its obligations to NATO and to avoid international isolation.
