In an interview published today in the Italian newspaper, La Reppublica, Silvio Berlusconi has announced that he will not be running in Italy’s upcoming elections.
Asked if he would be putting himself forward as a candidate for election, he replied: “Absolutely not”.
“I would like to leave now, really, but I won’t,” he said.
In his place, he named his justice minister and head of his People of Freedom (PdL) party, Angelino Alfano, as his potential successor.
“The candidate for premier on the centre right will be Alfano. If I could, I would give it up now… in any case I won’t be the candidate for prime ministr in the next election… at 77 I can’t still be the president of the council”.
He offered his full support to Alfano, saying he was “the only [politician] who doesn’t play games”.
The 74-year old media-mogul and effective tyrant has suffered several political drawbacks in recent months, including an unprecedented defeat in regional elections on 31 May and in four referendum votes on 13 June. Abroad, his image has long been sullied by a long list of salacious allegations, and he is currently being investigated on corruption charges and for allegedly paying an under-age prostitute for sex.
“When will you stop attacking me?” He whined to the newspaper. “Try to be a little more balanced. If you can.”
But news of his departure, however welcome, should be taken with a healthy degree of scepticism. After all, he is not a politician best known for his command of the truth.
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