AP

Fashion boss Santo Versace said he had quit Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's political party in the wake of a decision to back a mafia-tainted cabinet minister.

Rome -

Italian fashion entrepreneur Santo Versace on Thursday said he had quit Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's political party in the wake of the ruling conservative coalition's decision to back a mafia-tainted cabinet minister.

“This morning I left the PDL (People of Freedom party). It is my (birthday) present for Berlusconi,” Versace said in an interview with state broadcaster Radio Due.

He was referring to Berlusconi's 75th birthday on Thursday.

Versace, who in 2008, was elected to the lower house Chamber of Deputies as a PDL member, said he would now take his seat as an independent.

On Wednesday, Versace refused to back the governing coalition in its rejection of an opposition no-confidence motion against Agriculture Minister Francesco Saverio Romano, who is under investigation for links to Siclily's Cosa Nostra.

The motion, which was presented by the centre left opposition, was rejected by 315 votes to 294.

“I don't want to accuse anyone and I hope that (Romano) will be acquitted. But my Sicilian friend told me that I should do what they would have done: Vote in favour of the no-confidence motion,” he said.

Versace is joint chief executive officer of fashion house Gianni Versace - a company founded by and named after his brother Gianni who was murdered in Miami in 1997.

He said he had been considering leaving Berlusconi's party “for some time.”

“I like to work and in the PDL they don't have a need for someone who works,” Versace said. - Sapa-dpa