The leader of Italy's powerful Northern League party, a key partner in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, said Thursday it will be “complicated” for the government to last until the next scheduled elections in 2013

Umberto Bossi told reporters it would be objectively difficult for Mr. Berlusconi to continue governing until the 2013 elections. Berlusconi has insisted that he wants to remain in power until 2013 despite Italy's economic crisis and a flood of political and personal problems, including four separate trials on fraud and sex charges.

Bossi says he thinks it would be better for the country to hold early elections. He named Mr. Berlusconi as the problem, saying it is difficult to fleece people and then ask them to vote for you.

Many Italians are angry over a more than $80 billion austerity package imposed under pressure from the European Central Bank.

The plan, which passed last month, includes increases in taxes and service costs. The Italian government is hopeful the austerity plan will balance the Italian budget by 2013. Italy is the eurozone's third largest economy.