Forza Italia

The man who changed the face of Italy and paved the way for the ruling far right died on Monday, but Berlusconism has risen. After Silvio Berlusconi's death, my country seems to have fallen under a spell. The major TV channels broadcast hagiographic reports of the four-time prime minister, with nostalgic music playing in the background.

Silvio Berlusconi, controversial former Italian Prime Minister and media tycoon, died in a Milan'private hospital San Raffaele on Tuesday aged 86 at around 9.30am.

He reportedly had leukaemia and was hospitalised for six weeks in the spring before being readmitted on Friday. 

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni was named Italian prime minister on Oct. 21, becoming the first woman to head a government in Italy.

"Good evening, I'm Mateo": it is unusual for a former prime minister to introduce himself to you with his given name. But 46-year-old Matteo Renzi (in addition to the well-known Mediterranean relaxed demeanor) has this comfort of a person who managed to reach the top very young.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will run in the European Parliament election in May, he announced Thursday.

"At my lovely age, I've decided out of a sense of responsibility to head for Europe where there is a lack of deep thinking about the world," said Berlusconi, 82, in Sardinia on the first stop of his campaign tour, POLITICO EU reported.

ROME (Sputnik) - Italian Prime Minister-Designate Giuseppe Conte couldn't form a new government, Ugo Zampetti, an official at the president's office, said Sunday.

Italy is heading towards a hung Parliament. After Germany and Austria, it is evident that the major political parties have started losing their support base in Italy, thus, allowing radical Rightist forces to gain ground.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said on March 1 he would stand as candidate for prime minister for former premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, or “Go Italy!” party, in the March 4 vote.

It is official: The ally of Jean-Claude Juncker and Silvio Berlusconi, Antonio Tajani (EPP, IT) won Parliament’s presidential election with 351 votes in a final face-off with Gianni Pittella (S&D, IT), who secured 282 votes.

The outcome of the fourth ballot was:

Antonio Tajani (EPP, IT) 351
Gianni Pittella (S&D, IT) 282

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi suffered a setback in local elections on May 31, with a weaker-than-expected showing by his centre-left bloc and a marked rise in support for the right-wing Northern League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.