«Conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi reclaimed power in key U.S. ally Italy on Monday after clinching decisive victories in both houses of parliament. The 71-year-old media mogul was congratulated by his main rival, former Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, who conceded defeat even though the vote counting was still under way. ''The election result is clear even if we wait for the final data,'' said Veltroni. ''It says that the right will govern this country.'' Berlusconi, who was in his villa near Milan, made no immediate statement, just waving as he passed in his Mercedes».
(New York Times)
«[...] The tycoon, one of Italy's richest men, is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the successful football club AC Milan.
Mr Veltroni is a former communist who served for seven years as mayor of Rome before taking over the leadership of the centre-left coalition led by Mr Prodi after his government collapsed in January.
The new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II».
(Bbc)
«[...] While Berlusconi is nearly 20 years older than the 52-year-old Veltroni, the media magnate's plastic surgery, hair transplant, and year-round tan have turned him into the eternal youngster of Italian politics. His bypass surgery since leaving office seemed to have little to no impact on the election.
Berlusconi ran his campaign with his trademark bravado, arguing he is the only one who could give Italy the future it needs».
(Cnn)
«[...] Both Mr Berlusconi and Mr Veltroni vowed to cut taxes, reduce Italy's huge public debt and liberalise the public sector. A lacklustre campaign was enlivened only towards the end by Mr Berlusconi's reversion to typically extravagant remarks and promises. Most Italians weary of squabbling self serving politicians and chronic political instability turned out to vote with little enthusiasm
[...]
Mr Berlusconi, mocked by the Left for his efforts to disguise his height, age and receding hairline, has been implicated in a string of corruption investigations. He ran up a budget deficit equal to 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) during his last period in office. That made his victory all the more remarkable. At 71 he was written off by his critics as too old, too prone to vulgar gaffes, too wedded to vested interests and too dogged by corruption allegations to be the leader chosen by Italians to reverse the country’s economic and social decline.».
(The Times)