- Title: Can Silvio Berlusconi really become the next Italian president?
- Date: 17th January 2022
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (JANUARY 17, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR AT LUISS UNIVERSITY, GIOVANNI ORSINA, SAYING: "Berlusconi believes he is one of the most important persons, possibly the most important historical figure in Italy in the late twentieth and early twenty first century and he believes that Italy has not recognised his importance. He has been, of course,
- Embargoed: 31st January 2022 13:18
- Keywords: Borthers of ITaly Democratic Party Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi Giorgia Meloni Italy League Matteo Salvini politics presidential election
- Location: ROME AND MILAN, ITALY / PITTSBURGH, USA AND INTERNET
- City: ROME AND MILAN, ITALY / PITTSBURGH, USA AND INTERNET
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA005FUMH8P3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Italian parliament will convene on January 24 to begin voting for a new head of state and former four-times prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, 85, is emerging from the shadows to become a central figure in the presidential discussions.
Italian centre-right parties have confirmed they want Berlusconi to be their candidate for the next President of Italy and would seek wide support for him in parliament. But could he really make it?
"I think this is a very unlikely outcome," explained Professor Giovanni Orsina from Luiss University, whilst adding you can never count Berlusconi out.
"Berlusconi believes he is one of the most important persons, possibly the most important historical figure in Italy in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century and he believes that Italy has not recognised his importance," explained Orsina.
" He has been, of course, very controversial. He has been condemned, he has been excluded from parliament. So, for all these reasons he is basically looking for some form of retribution, he wants Italy to acknowledge his importance and his positive role in the history of the country," Orsina said.
"This is what Berlusconi is looking for, he is looking for an applause, for the recognition by Italy of his importance" he said.
Italy's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which has categorically ruled out backing Berlusconi as head of state, said it was "disappointed and worried" by the decision.
Voting among more than 1,000 parliamentarians and regional delegates begins on Jan. 24, with Berlusconi potentially standing in the way of Prime Minister Mario Draghi getting the prestigious post.
The anti-system 5-Star Movement, which has the largest number of parliamentarians, reiterated on Friday that it could never support Berlusconi, who has been convicted of tax fraud and still faces trial tied to his "bunga bunga" sex parties.
Neither of the two main blocs has enough support to ram through a candidate for head of state and the PD has called on all parties to try to build consensus around a figure who is not as divisive as Berlusconi.
On the streets of Rome there is mixed reaction to how Berlusconi would be seen as the next President.
"He's a bit old, but we'll see what happens. As a politician he's done well, he's also had legal problems but he's always been acquitted. He could do well," said Rome resident Franco Anduccio.
"If he won I would change my citizenship, I would become a Moroccan citizen, I would become an African, said pensioner Antonio Gabrielli.
"He is not a unifying person as the President of a nation should be. He is a divisive person, he is not capable of embodying the soul and spirit of this country. Unless we want to offer an image of corruption, arrogance and incapacity of this country," Gabrielli said.
The centre-right bloc includes the League, the Brothers of Italy and Berlusconi's own Forza Italia. Although some of their supporters have expressed reservations about Berlusconi, Friday's statement pledged to try to build "wide support" for him amongst the lawmakers.
Although there are no formal candidates at the presidential election, Berlusconi has been campaigning tirelessly behind the scenes to convince lawmakers to vote for him and has mobilised his media empire behind his bid.
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