Berlusconi plans return to politics Silvio Berlusconi ended weeks of speculation on Saturday by confirming that he planned to run for prime minister again in general elections that he said he expected to be held on March 10 next year. The 76-year-old billionaire and former three time prime minister declared his intentions to reporters at the Milanello practice ground of his AC Milan football club. "I'm running to win," he said, saying he took his decision "out of a sense of responsibility" for Italy and because his centre-right People of Liberty party had been unable to find an alternative "recognised" leader since his resignation as prime minister in November last year. Mr Berlusconi said on several occasions after making way for Mario Monti's technocrat government that he would not run for high office again. But he appeared to change course in late October when a Milan court convicted him for tax fraud and said he had criminal tendencies, a judgment that left him fuming against what he called a politically biased justice system. Opinion polls show the People of Liberty trailing the centre-left Democratic party, led by Pier Luigi Bersani, by some 20 points. By indicating that he agreed with the possible date of March 10 for elections, Mr Berlusconi was in effect confirming that his party would not try to bring down Mario Monti's technocrats in coming weeks. On Thursday Mr Berlusconi's party sowed confusion when it abruptly ended its support for the government by abstaining or staying away from two key economic reform votes in the senate and lower house. However centre-left politicians said on Saturday that it appeared the centre-right would try to block some legislation in the pipeline. Media reports said Mr Berlusconi's party intended to oppose a bill proposed by the government that would reduce the number of Italy's provinces to save on public spending. Members of Mr Berlusconi's party said they expected the PDL to run an anti-austerity campaign proposing tax and spending cuts, and adopt a pro-European platform that would be critical of Germany's economic dominance over weaker eurozone members. Some senior politicians from the rightwing faction of Mr Berlusconi's party had opposed his candidacy, setting the scene for a prolonged power struggle within the party that had left it paralysed and in disarray. But opposition relented when Mr Berlusconi - who represents a major source of PDL funding - threatened to leave and form his own party. The PDL may change its name and attempt to project a new image, after more than eight years in power since 2001 failed to generate significant reforms or economic growth, losing voters in droves. An early test of Mr Berlusconi's authority within the party will be whether he can succeed in shunting aside older discredited politicians and bring in new blood, a generational challenge that Mr Bersani is also confronting in the Democratic party. "Certainly there will be lots of new faces," Mr Berlusconi told reporters. "We have to innovate and there are also people who all have the right to be feeling tired," he added, saying he had been in contact with entrepreneurs, professionals, academics and also sports stars. With Mr Berlusconi and Mr Bersani confirmed as their parties" candidates for prime minister, attention is now shifting to Mr Monti's intentions. The former European commissioner is under pressure from centrist groups to run for prime minister. Mr Monti - who is already guaranteed a place in parliament as a life senator - has said he will not put himself forward as a candidate, although he has indicated he would be ready to serve again if the elections did not produce a clear winner. resigned in 2011 withdrew support for Mario Monti's government,