Berlusconi would back Meloni if Marchini loses (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, May 25 - Former premier Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday his center-right Forza Italia (FI) party will back rightwing Rome mayoral candidate Giorgia Meloni in a run-off vote should FI candidate Alfio Marchini lose in the first round on June 5. "We will vote for a rightwing party that will be our future ally on the national level," the media mogul told Porta a Porta (Door to Door) talk show on RAI public broadcaster. Meloni is from the small Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.
    Asked who he would support in case center-left Democratic Party (PD) candidate Roberto Giachetti and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) candidate Virginia Raggi were to face off in a runoff vote, Berlusconi answered he couldn't countenance the idea.
    "I don't want to take that scenario into consideration, because I am certain Marchini will make it to a runoff vote," he said.