If the majority in the Italian chamber of deputies has its way Rome will not receive the extra capital funding that it has requested, to pay for special projects such as improvements to the public transport infrastructure, restoration work, the construction of museums and concert halls and extra expenses the city incurs when hosting prestigious international gatherings.

The parliamentary vote against awarding the extra three-year funding to Rome was led by the Lega Nord, the political party in Silvio Berlusconi's government dedicated to undermining the authority of the central government in Rome.

Every regional capital in Italy receives special funding annually, usually about 324 per head, and if the senate upholds the vote in the chamber of deputies, Rome will receive 302 per head.