Italy's Conte defends record, says political crisis risks damaging nation

ROME, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, looking to save his government after a junior partner quit the coalition, defended on Monday his handling of both the coronavirus emergency and the knock-on economic crisis.

Former premier Matteo Renzi pulled his small Italia Viva party out of the cabinet last week, saying he was unhappy with Conte's plans for reviving the economy.

Addressing the lower house of parliament, Conte said there was "no plausible justification" for Renzi's decision and warned that the political turmoil risked inflicting serious damage on Italy at one of the most critical moments in modern history.

Conte faces a do-or-die vote in the lower house on Monday, with a second vote set for the upper house Senate on Tuesday.

Attention is especially focused on the 321-seat Senate, where Conte looks certain to fall short of an absolute majority after his efforts to persuade centrists in opposition ranks to rally to his side looked to have failed. (Reporting by Gavin Jones and Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer)