Whoever becomes the leader of a
new centre-right party envisioned by Silvio Berlusconi must have
"charisma" and integrity, the three-time ex-premier said Friday.
Campaigning in Naples for upcoming regional elections,
Berlusconi added that the new leader must also be committed to
the country and not seeking personal gain.
On Thursday Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia (FI) party has
plunged in the polls since a tax-fraud conviction, said Thursday
that he will found but not lead a new movement.
He added then that there should not be primaries, but he
will appoint his own "heir".
Berlusconi, who recently completed a community service
sentence for tax fraud, said that his choice of leader must be
someone with a "sufficient degree of charisma".
As well, courage and a sense of public service are crucial
in a world of cynical politicians, said Berlusconi, whose
critics have accused him using political office to further his
media empire.
"You have to have courage...and exclude those who are in
politics only for their own advantage," said Berlusconi.
Berlusconi, also denounced "small" political parties as
being too self-absorbed while "big" parties "normally look to
the interests of citizens".
"Small parties often identify with their small leaders," he
added.
Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing Northern League,
on Friday rejected the idea of "heirs or dynasties" apppointed
by Berlusconi to head a centre-right movement.
"I don't think there's a blood right," to leadership, he
said in response to Berlusconi's announcement that he would pick
an heir.
Berlusconi also denounced again the 2012 Severino law that
saw him banned from office for six years for his criminal
conviction, complaining that retroactive application of the law
in his case was "a sacrilege".
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