SILVIO BERLUSCONI - A great leader

Italy's richest man, the business tycoon Silvio Berlusconi, is on his way back to power. His centre-right coalition was driven by Berlusconi's forceful personality and his catch-all campaign, promising tax cuts, better pensions, safer cities and jobs for all. "He is a great person - he is just so positive and a really great man" Roman voter on Berlusconi Mr Berlusconi's empire includes three television channels, Italy's biggest publishing house, an advertising agency, a major …

…he has an estimated $11bn fortune. There was a scandal in 1981 when Mr Berlusconi was revealed as a member of the P-2 Freemason's lodge, a secret network of politicians, businessmen and media figures. The group was disbanded, and Mr Berlusconi emerged unscathed. Last year he acknowledged for the first time that he had suffered prostate cancer, but despite rumours to the contrary he insists he has been cured. He certainly appears to have unstoppable energy