Rome, March 2 - European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Friday that if his homeland needed him he would be ready to be Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) premier candidate for Sunday's general election. "He is someone who knows all of Europe," Berlusconi said as he announced his one-time protege as his favoured nominee if the rightwing coalition he heads wins a majority in Sunday's general election. Berlusconi, an 81-year-old three-time prime minister who is himself legally barred from holding elected office because of a fraud conviction, had previously hinted that Tajani would be his favoured choice for the post. • Eight things that explain the enduring popularity of Berlusconi

Undeniably likeable, Tajani has a reputation for knowing everyone, not only in the European parliament where he has been since 1994 but also in the European Commission, the executive of the 28-nation EU. Mr Berlusconi's centre-right alliance was predicted to win the most seats before a poll blackout came into force on February 16, but still fall short of a governing majority.
Antonio Tajani, the current President of the European Parliament, accepts the offer of Silvio Berlusconi to stand as a candidate for Prime Minister of Italy for Forza Italia.