Three-time former premier and media
magnate Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday he would stand for the
Senate in the September 25 general election, ending speculation
on whether he would run or not four days before his 86th
birthday.
"I think I'll stand in the Senate, that way we'll make everyone
happy," said the billionaire businessman, who served a two-year
tax fraud office ban from 2013 to 2015 and who leads the
centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party.
Berlusconi said Tuesday supporters had been urging him to stand
but he still hadn't made his mind up.
Berlusconi was once by far the top dog on Italy's centre right,
but he was supplanted first by former anti-migrant interior
minister and far-right League leader Matteo Salvini and more
recently by post-fascist Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader Giorgia
Meloni, who looks set to become Italy's first hard-right and
first woman prime minister after September 25.
FdI leads the coalition with 23.8% of voting intentions as of
today compared to 12.5% for the League and just 8% for FI, down
from the high 20s 10 years ago.
Salvini on Tuesday reiterated that Meloni will become premier if
she gets one more vote than him.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
