Disgraced Berlusconi to run for Italy's premier

Started by NewsCaster, Dec 08, 2012, 08:30 PM

NewsCaster

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister best known for his wild parties and alleged intercoursecapades, is officially out of a job as Europe's debt crisis hits Italy. NBC's Richard Engel reports.By Frances D'Emilio, The Associated PressROME -- Billionaire media baron Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned in disgrace a year ago  with Italy tottering through the European debt crisis, on Saturday announced he  is running for a fourth term as premier.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld  Berlusconi, 76, reluctantly  stepped down in November 2011 after pressure from international financial  markets. He was later convicted of tax fraud and has faced intercourseual misconduct  allegations.

An unelected government of technocrats, led by widely  respected economist Mario Monti, was appointed to replace him. Opinion polls  have seen the popularity of Berlusconi's Freedom People Party plunge to far  below that of Italy's other large party, the center-left.

But he is  confident he can achieve victory.

"I'm running to win," Berlusconi told  reporters outside the training facilities of his soccer team AC Milan.    





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