Berlusconi Makes One Last Push for Power

Silvio Berlusconi, the richest man in Italy and the longest-serving postwar PM, is pushing for one more shot at the top by founding a new political party, reports the Independent. In a surprise move, Berlusconi is dissolving Forza Italia, the party he built from scratch, and trying to unite the center-right to push Romano Prodi out of office.

Berlusconi seemed to be speaking off the cuff when he announced "The People's Party," and then, after a pause, "of Freedom," Time reports. Yet some political analysts discern savvy in Berlusconi's decision: With the left now unified under popular Rome mayor Walter Veltroni, the ex-PM seems to be severing ties with minuscule right-wing parties and preparing for the big battle. (More Italy stories.)