Berlusconi Makes Long-Shot Bid for Italian President

Ahead of a crucial presidential election, former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is attempting a political comeback with a bid to rally cross-party support “around his barely disguised self-candidacy for the presidency,” the Financial Times reports.

New York Times: “The Italian presidency, the country’s head of state, is a seven-year position usually filled by a figure of unimpeachable integrity and sobriety whose influence flows from moral authority. The current holder, Sergio Mattarella, is a quiet statesman whose brother was murdered by the mob. Another contender is Mario Draghi, the prime minister and a titan of European politics who has led the country to a period of unusual stability.”

“Then there is Mr. Berlusconi, who despite his recent bad health, waxen appearance and weakened political standing, is making an unabashed push to win a career-culminating position that he hopes will wash away decades of stains — his allies say unjustly thrown mud — and rewrite his legacy.”