Jan. 30: Italy faces the possibility of a dynastic succession as support grows for the millionaire daughter of Silvio Berlusconi to replace the beleaguered Prime Minister, a media report said here on Sunday.
In a move which would delight Mr Berlusconi’s supporters, Marina Berlusconi is being mooted as his successor as a prostitution scandal threatens to bring his third term in office to a premature end, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Members of the prime minister’s People of Freedom (PDL) party have backed the idea of his daughter becoming a candidate at the next elections, a scenario which would invite comparisons with the Bush and Kennedy dynasties in the US.
With Mr Berlusconi holding on to power with only the slimmest of majorities, and accused of having sex with an underage prostitute and then abusing his powers to try to conceal the crime, it is increasingly likely that Italy will go to the polls well before his mandate expires in 2013.
Ms Marina, 44, who is known for her love of short skirts and high heels, is already being groomed to take over her father’s multi-billion pound business empire. The eldest of his five children, she heads his Fininvest holding company as well as Mondadori, his publishing empire.
Now she is believed to be contemplating a move into politics, the report said. She already has the wealth and the connections — in the current Forbes list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, she is ranked 48, ahead of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Jordan’s Queen Rania.
The suggestion that Ms Marina might exchange the board room for parliament was greeted with enthusiasm by party faithful last week.
She would be “a huge asset to Italy”, said Michaela Biancofiore, an MP in Mr Berlusconi’s party. “She is an emblem of our country, who’s recognised around the world for her managerial talents,” he added.