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Today’s R&D covers Italian politics, where Prime Minister Enrico Letta survived a confidence vote this week after right-wing factions loyal to Silvio Berlusconi, a former prime minister, reversed course and endorsed the existing government.  This R&D includes articles after Berlusconi backed off his threat and articles released hours before his decision, which allow extempers to weigh the causes of Italy’s recent political crisis, their possible ramifications, and where Italy is headed after the confidence vote.