Berlusconi prepares to sing his praises

With Mario Monti bowing out after taking some tough austerity measures, Italy is braced for a tough election battle as Silvio Berlusconi re-enters ring, reports John Lloyd

IT’S not over till Silvio stops singing. The onetime cruise ship crooner has called his party — the People of Freedom — to order.

Most have obeyed his command to withdraw support for the technocratic government now running Italy, including those who until recently said it was a good thing old man Berlusconi was out of the running.