Berlusconi will stand for prime minister (again?) if Bersani rejections of a large coalition leads to new elections

Saturday, 13 April, 2013. During a gathering in Bari, Silvio Berlusconi said he will run for prime minister for a fifth time if a a new election will be held following the centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani rejects forming a government with him.

The role of the saviour of the fatherland is Silvio Berlusconi's favourite, and he is trying to impersonate it again, as Italy keeps on wasting time trying to muddle up with its disgraceful state without a government, two months after general election created three hostile and feckless blocs.

Silvio, Silvio, Silvio!

In the months before February general election, the former prime minister first said goodbye to political life, than decided he had to stay, but – he said – without running for office. At least not as premier, at the most as minister of Economy.

Well, now things seems to have changed again, as Silvio has realised that without him Italy will be just going to the dogs. So he decided to seek office as a PM for the fifth time. Roberto Benigni is not going to like it...

Berlusconi at odds with Francesca Pascale?

Tuesday, 9 April, 2013. Meeting up with political opponents Enrico Letta and Pier Luigi Bersani (in order to find a common path for the election of the new head of state of Italy) Silvio Berlusconi finds time to complain about his girlfriend Francesca Pascale's attitudes.

The photo published by the newspaper Libero (real or fake?)

It might be quite unusual for Silvio Berlusconi to meet up with adversaries (especially when they are old wily communists, like Pier Luigi Bersani), but for sure it is unprecedented for the former prime minister of Italy to take it out on his beloved Neapolitan girlfriend (their engagement was made public last December) with them.

Yet that's exactly what happened, according to the right-wing newspaper Libero, as the presidente of the People of Liberty party (PdL) decided to have a chat with two of the Democratic Party's (PD) leaders, about how to get to vote for successor to the president of Italy Giorgio Napolitano without any squabble (if possible).

Silvio Berlusconi and the property tax refund

Wednesday, February 20, 2013. A massive mailshot of letters with the words "Important notice: reimbursement of [propriety tax] IMU 2012" printed on the envelope was sent to Italian voters by Silvio Berlusconi People of Freedom party, triggering queues of inquiring at Post Offices and revenue services' agency.

Silvio Berlusconi promising to abolish IMU (and refund the tax paid in 2012)

“How and when to obtain in 2013 the refund the [property tax] IMU paid in 2012 on the first house and land and farm buildings” recites the object of the letter – sent to millions of households and duly signed by Silvio Berlusconi – who addresses the recipients with a warm “Dear Maria” or “Dear Giovanni”, depending if the addressed person  is a man or a woman.

The letter goes on detailing that the payment can be carried out "to your current bank account or, for pensioners and others who prefer this method, in cash at the Post Office counter". In a country like Italy were almost 40 per cent of inhabitants never used Internet and the main source of information is the television, it might be easy to take it for granted that the tax will be paid back. Especially if you are a pensioner, and somebody is showing you the colour of money...