Back in Berlusconi's arms? The former PM has hinted at a comeback
Nothing has been confirmed at this stage, but disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is hinting at a comeback.
According to the Guardian, he told an audience of young right wingers at the weekend: “I’m working on solutions. I’m still here.”
As the audience rose to their feet chanting “Silvio, Silvio”, he added: “Give me 51% of the vote.”
Italian newspaper Corriere.IT is also reporting the rumours, pointing out that since his departure from office in November 2011 he has been “sounding much more anti-Eurozone than when he was actually in charge”.
Berlusconi, a former cruise ship singer, was much criticised for his handling of the economy during the Eurozone crisis.
The 75-year-old’s career was dogged by court battles and sex scandals, including allegations he slept with an 18-year-old belly dancer nicknamed "Ruby the heart-stealer".
In 2009 Berlusconi estimated that in the last twenty years he had made 2,500 court appearances in 106 trials, and spent more than 200m euros on legal fees fighting accusations of false accounting, tax evasion and bribery of a judge.
Click below for a gallery of the women in Berlusconi's life
Berlusconi's Babes
Karima el-Mahroug aka 'Ruby the heart stealer'(01 of14)
Karima el-Mahroug sitting next to her host Austrian businessman Richard Lugner, not pictured, enjoys a glass of champagne during the traditional Opera Ball at the state opera in Vienna, Austria on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Karima el-Mahroug nicknamed Ruby, is the woman at the centre of a sex scandal which is engulfing Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (credit:PA)
Silvio Berlusconi and former wife Veronica Lario(02 of14)
Facing a divorce threat, Premier Silvio Berlusconi was quoted Monday May 4, 2009 as saying he doesn't know if he wants to patch up his marriage and demanding a public apology from his wife. The billionaire media magnate's wife, actress Veronica Lario, confirmed Sunday she is seeking a divorce from Berlusconi for his constant flirtations with younger women. She also lashed out at the premier's reported attendance at an 18-year-old woman's birthday party in Naples, saying she was surprised "because he never came to the 18th of any of his children, even though he was invited." File photo dated 04/06/2002: Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and his wife Veronica Lario wait for US President W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the Villa Madama residence for a social dinner, in Rome, in this Friday, June 4, 2004 file photo. Over the past 10 months Silvio Berlusconi has lost power in a contested election, fainted during a political rally, undergone heart surgery and has been publicly rebuked by his scorned wife for flirting with other women. But the 70-year-old Berlusconi remains at the center of the political stage, his charismatic personality still capturing the imagination of Italians like no other. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:PA)
Noemi Letizia(03 of14)
FILE - In this Tuesday, April 28, 2009, file photo, 18-year-old Noemi Letizia poses for a photograph in her home in Naples, Italy. Premier Silvio Berlusconi is fighting back in a scandal feeding on his fondness for young women, with his lawyer acknowledging Saturday, May 30, 2009 the media mogul has moved to block publication of hundreds of photos taken of guests at his sumptuous Sardinian villa. State television reported that among the photos were some taken last New Year's Eve, with the guests including Letizia at the heart of the political and personal scandal. (AP Photo/Franco Castanò, File) ITALY OUT (credit:PA)
Noemi Letizia(04 of14)
FILE - In this Tuesday, April 28, 2009, file photo, 18-year-old model Noemi Letizia poses in her home in Naples, Italy with a portrait of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. Just weeks ago Silvio Berlusconi appeared to have an ironclad grip on power. Now the Italian premier is looking suddenly vulnerable, with the heat coming from something almost unheard of in freewheeling Italy: a sex scandal. Opposition politicians and newspapers kept up the pressure Wednesday on Berlusconi, who has spent most of the past month defending himself against accusations from his wife that he had an inappropriate relationship with the 18-year-old model. (AP Photo/Franco Castanò, File) **ITALY OUT** (credit:PA)
Patrizia D'addario(05 of14)
Italian escort Patrizia D'addario poses during an Italian style party named "I love Silvio", in Paris, Saturday Aug. 1, 2009. D'Addario, a high-end prostitute at the center of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal, alleges she spent the night of Nov. 4 with Berlusconi at the premier's Rome residence. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (credit:PA)
Berlusconi and his daughter Barbara(06 of14)
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2005 file photo, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi arrives with his daughter Barbara at a party in Milan, Italy. Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian premier engulfed in a sex scandal over alleged encounters with young women, has been taken to task by his daughter, who is quoted as saying in an interview that public officials should enhance moral values. Barbara Berlusconi also said that public officials cannot afford to differentiate between their public and private spheres, the Italian edition of Vanity Fair reports in an interview to be published Wednesday. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni/Files) (credit:PA)
Noemi Letizia(07 of14)
Italian model Noemi Letizia arrives at the 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. Letizia was at the center of a sex scandal that involved Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi over allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with the18-year-old model. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) (credit:PA)
Patrizia D'Addario(08 of14)
FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 file photo, Italian escort Patrizia D'Addario arrives at the 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. Premier Silvio Berlusconi brushed off questions about any possible resignation over his sex scandal, saying Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 that he has been Italy's best premier ever. Berlusconi also said he was considering suing the woman at the center of the scandal. Patrizia D'Addario, a self-proclaimed prostitute, claims she tape-recorded Berlusconi during a night she says they spent together at the premier's home last year. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) (credit:PA)
Patrizia D'Addario(09 of14)
Italian escort girl Patrizia D'Addario, involved in a sex scandal with Silvio Berlusconi, poses for photographs in Paris, France, in September 2009. (credit:PA)
Karima el-Mahroug aka 'Ruby the heart stealer'(10 of14)
In this photo made available Friday Nov. 12, 2010 Moroccan girl nicknamed Ruby attends a party in a disco in Genoa, Italy, Thursday Nov. 11, 2010. The 74-year-old Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi has been engulfed in a scandal over his ties to Ruby, whom he helped free from police custody months ago. The girl, who turned 18 just days ago, said she visited Berlusconi's villa on at least one occasion, though she said she never had sex with the premier. Some have alleged that Berlusconi's intervention with police to free her could be considered an abuse of power. (AP Photo/str) (credit:PA)
Nicole Minetti (11 of14)
Nicole Minetti attends a meeting at the Lombardy regional headquarters in Milan Tuesday, Feb.15, 2011. Minetti is the Berlusconi aide that took into custody a 17-year-old Moroccan girl nicknamed Ruby, after she was released by police, that was detaining her for suspect theft, following a phone call from the Italian premier. Minetti, a Lombardy regional official who was formerly Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's dental hygienist, according to prosecutors' documents recruited "a significant number of young women, who "prostituted themselves with Silvio Berlusconi." Minetti, who is also under investigation, denies the accusations. Berlusconi is going on trial April 6 in Milan on charges that he paid for sex with the 17-year-old Moroccan girl and then tried to cover it up. Berlusconi has been in court for a number of business-related charges, but this is the first time the 74-year-old billionaire businessman is being tried for personal conduct. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (credit:PA)
(12 of14)
Moroccan girl Imane Fadil gestures as she leaves the court in Milan, Italy, Monday, Oct.3, 2011. Berlusconi is on trial from April 6, 2011 in Milan on charges of paying for sex with Karima el Mahroub, nicknamed Ruby, a 17-year-old Moroccan gilr. Berlusconi has been in court for a number of business-related charges, but this is the first time the 75-year-old billionaire businessman is being tried for personal conduct. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (credit:PA)
Nicole Minetti (13 of14)
Italian People for Freedom party local politician and former showgirl Nicole Minetti makes up her lips during a break of a trial in Milan's court, Italy, Friday, May 11, 2012. Minetti, along with other two ex-Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi aides, Emilio Fede, an executive in Berlusconi's media empire, and talent agent Dario "Lele" Mora, has gone on trial on charges for allegedly recruiting an underage Moroccan girl and other women for prostitution at Berlusconi's villas. Berlusconi is being tried separately for allegedly paying for sex with the Moroccan girl, charges he denies. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (credit:PA)
Nicole Minetti (14 of14)
Italian People for Freedom party local politician and former showgirl Nicole Minetti looks on during a break of a trial in Milan's court, Italy, Friday, May 11, 2012. Minetti, along with other two ex-Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi aides, Emilio Fede, an executive in Berlusconi's media empire, and talent agent Dario "Lele" Mora, has gone on trial on charges for allegedly recruiting an underage Moroccan girl and other women for prostitution at Berlusconi's villas. Berlusconi is being tried separately for allegedly paying for sex with the Moroccan girl, charges he denies. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (credit:PA)