Students staged mass protests in Rome and throughout Italy yesterday as the Italian parliament voted on a confidence resolution that threatened the government of media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi.

Berlusconi, who has proposed huge cuts to higher education as part of a reform package condemned by many in Italy’s universities, prevailed by a mere three votes. As news of the result spread through the crowds, anger swelled — in all, more than a hundred protesters were injured.

Though Berlusconi, who has dominated Italian politics for more than a decade, survived yesterday’s vote, his ability to lead — and the fate of his controversial higher education policies — remain doubtful.