Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has repeated his intention not to seek re-election when his term ends in 2013 and suggested it may be time for his chief ally, Umberto Bossi of the Northern League, to step aside too.

Berlusconi said "absolutely not" when asked in an interview in La Repubblica Friday whether he would run again.

He made a similar comment to the foreign press in April, then recommending Justice Minister Angelino Alfano as his successor.

Berlusconi said "it's only right" that new generations be prepared to take over and that "sooner or later" he and Bossi will be replaced.