ROME, Dec 20, 2012 (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's impending resignation ahead of elections came a step closer on Wednesday after the Senate approved a budget Bill that will now go to the lower house for final approval.

The Senate vote had been set for earlier in the week but was delayed by lawmakers from Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party who said they needed more time to consider the complex set of measures in the budget.

The result of the vote, which the government had called a confidence vote on, was 199 in favour, 55 against and 10 abstentions.

Monti has said he will step down as soon as next year's budget is voted through, firing the starting gun on a general election expected in February.

Silvio Berlusconi running for 4th term

The main candidates so far are centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani and the colourful tycoon Silvio Berlusconi who is running for a fourth term as prime minister.

Monti, a former top Eurocrat installed by parliament to rescue Italy at the height of the financial crisis, has not declared whether or not he will run.

The lower house of parliament is expected to vote the budget through in the coming days. Monti is also expected to hold a press conference over the weekend in which he could announce his political intentions.

Speaking last month, Mr. Monti said his country was 'done with austerity':