Few days ago, Silvio Berlusconi participated in a political meeting in Bologna (the most left-oriented city in Italy) that has ratified the alliance with the Lega Nord party.

Berlusconi and the leader of Lega Nord Matteo Salvini

Is this a return of Berlusconi?

Two considerations are needed to answer.

First, the season of the former Prime Minister ended years ago. He was the head of the Government for four times in the last  20 years. He was the deus ex machina of the Italian political system also having a large support of the electorate and a huge power in the Parliament. But if we consider the results he got, we can just see a lack of decisionism and a weakness against the main lobbies of the country.

Second, if he was able to come back to the political scene, it would be anyway as support of Matteo Salvini, the leader of Lega Nord, who has radicalized the political debate with positions xenophobes and anti-Eu. The risk for Berlusconi is to become a mascotte more than a leader.

We all remember when he left Palazzo Chigi for the last time (November 2011). When he decided to participate in the political elections 2013 Libération cover had the title "Le retour de la momie?" and Berlusconi's face. 

Who is writing this post has never been a supporter of Berlusconi. Anyway, it is very sad seeing a person of 79 years who has not the strength to leave the political scene. An act that could facilitate the creation of new forces in the centre-right political area.

Yesterday Helmut Shmidt died. He served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. When he left the Government and the Parliament in the 80s, he continued to make politics in a non-institutional way. Another kind of politician.

Libération (2012)
Regarding the participation of Berlusconi at the Political Elections 2013 after having left the Government in 2011