FI to present Bertolaso list April 29

(ANSA) - Rome, April 22 - Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party said Friday that it will present on April 29 its list backing Guido Bertolaso's bid to become Rome's next mayor. On Thursday Bertolaso said Berlusconi had renewed his backing for him to become Rome mayor on June 5 following reports FI bigwigs wanted the ex-premier to ditch the former civil protection chief. "Nothing has changed. We are going forward with a packed agenda of engagements in the city," said FI's Rome coordinator Davide Bordoni. Some FI members were reportedly pressing Berlusconi to get Bertolaso to step down, given his poor polling numbers, to make way for the Northern League's candidate, Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni. Polls currently show Meloni and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) candidate Virginia Raggi ahead of the Democratic Party's Roberto Giachetti.