‘The Cavalier’ is still fighting allegations of corruption and mafia connections

SILVIO BERLUSCONI, the energetic Italian, always had close allies in government but by 1994 Italy was in political paralysis.

The judiciary had initiated ‘Operation Clean Hands’, scrubbing up the bribe-riddled parties in Italian government. Berlusconi decided to go for the top job himself.

His Forza Italia was as much a populist movement as a political party.