Silvio Berlusconi raises spectre of political comeback At the same time Angelino Alfano, current secretary of the PdL and protégé of the ex-prime minister, also hinted at an announcement that "will change the course of politics" and the "most innovative campaign" since Mr Berlusconi entered politics. Mr Berlusconi said a new political alliance would be a way to strengthen support for Mr Monti whom he described as "serious and competent" with a capacity to "stifle the tone of professor which every so often gets the upper hand." The billionaire businessman entered the political arena in 1994 after creating his own political party, Forza Italia, and then formed the People of Freedom party with the right-wing National Alliance in 2007. After standing aside in November last year, he has ruled out ever becoming prime minister for the fourth time. But in February he claimed that his approval ratings remained at 36 per cent, making him more popular than Angela Merkel in Germany or France's Nicholas Sarkozy, and said he might stand for election again as an MP. On Friday Mr Berlusconi appeared at his sex trial in Milan and admitted that young women took part in "burlesque contests" at his so-called 'bunga bunga' parties. He is facing charges of paying for sex with under age erotic dancer, Karima El Mahroug, better known as Ruby, and abusing his office by seeking to have her released from police custody after she was arrested on suspicion of stealing cash and jewellery from a flat mate. Both Mr Berlusconi and Miss Mahroug have denied the charges.