Profile of Italian Candidate Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi, leader of Italy’s conservative coalition, is one of the world’s richest men, with interests in television, publishing, banking and insurance.
The 64-year-old Berlusconi served seven stormy months as prime minister in 1994 before his government fell when a key ally defected. He has sought to regain power ever since.
He has come under fire both at home and abroad by questions about conflict of interest because of his vast media empire.
As it did in 1994, his coalition consists of his Forza Italia (Let’s Go Italy) party, the sometimes xenophobic Northern League and the rightist National Alliance, built from the former Fascist party.
Francesco Rutelli, the center-left’s candidate for premier, is a fresh face on the national scene after serving two terms as mayor of Rome.
Rutelli, 46, describes himself as a “liberal democrat, an environmentalist and a Catholic.”
A career politician, he won high marks for preparing Rome for the Vatican’s 2000 Holy Year when 25 million pilgrims visited Rome.
Rutelli’s rival, media baron Silvio Berlusconi refused to debate during the campaign, claiming Rutelli was actually a front for the real center-left leaders.
