Former PM Silvio Berlusconi relaunches Forza Italia

The former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, relaunched Forza Italia, on the 26 October 2013. This was the centre-right party that brought him to power two decades earlier. A leaders' meeting voted to suspend the People of Freedom Party (PDL) and restore the name used until 2007.

Political observers said that a party split was very likely, with Mr Berlusconi's relaunch of Forza Italia indicating that he was attempting to transfer influence towards more conservative elements in the party.

ESO: Background information: Italian Senate panel recommends Berlusconi expulsion http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-senate-panel-recommends-berlusconi-expulsion/

Wikipedia: Forza Italia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forza_Italia

Euronews, 25.10.13: Berlusconi causes another stir in Italy by renaming his party Forza Italia http://www.euronews.com/2013/10/25/berlusconi-causes-another-stir-in-italy-by-renaming-his-party-forza-italia/

Huffington Post Italia, 29.10.13: Berlusconi takes control of his party again http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE132563-Berlusconi-takes-control-of-his-party-again

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