ROME: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi won a confidence vote early on Thursday on a labour reform package that is a central part of his government's push to reform the chronically stagnant economy.

Renzi won the vote in the upper house Senate 165 for and 111 against. He would have had to step down if he had lost. Stonewalling by opposition parties delayed the vote, expected in the afternoon, late into the night.

The legislation now must go before the lower house Chamber of Deputies.

Copyright Reuters, 2014