Ex premier and Forza Italia
leader Silvio Berlusconi reaffirmed his support for Guido
Bertolaso as centre-right mayor candidate in Rome on Thursday,
saying he is an "extraordinary chance" for the city.
"I am sticking with Guido Bertolaso without a doubt: and I
don't see how a Roman with his head screwed on can't have this
extraordinary chance in the interests of Rome," Berlusconi said
of the ex civil protection chief fielded in February with
initial consensus within the centre-right before parties to the
right of FI withdrew their support.
"(I am) intimately convinced that Romans can only see the
huge distance that separates Bertolaso's abilities and those of
the other candidates fielded by other parties," he said.
Earlier this month the president of the small right-wing
Brothers of Italy party Giorgia Meloni announced her intention
to run for the mayorship with backing from the Eurosceptic and
anti-immigrant Northern League led by Matteo Salvini.
Both leaders had originally given their backing to
Bertolaso.
Local elections in Rome and other cities are on 5-6 June.
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