Berlusconi rules out bid for PM

Silvio Berlusconi has announced he will not seek to return as Prime Minister under an alliance with the devolutionist Northern League after elections next month. He had been striving to seal the deal with his estranged former allies to strengthen the centre-right bloc.

Mr Berlusconi, who resigned as Prime Minister in November 2011, said he would prefer to be the Economy Minister and Angelino Alfano, secretary of his People of Freedom party, would probably lead a future centre-right government.

The centre-left is expected to win a comfortable majority in the lower house.

Reuters