Presidential election in Italy: Silvio Berlusconi has to go back to the hospital

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Silvio Berlusconi led the Italian government four times – but also made a name for himself with sex parties

Photo: FLAVIO LO SCALZO / REUTERS

Italy is looking for a new president and recently it seemed as if the main candidates would be well-known candidates - one of them: Silvio Berlusconi, born in 1936.

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This weekend, on Saturday, the 85-year-old announced that he was not available for the office after all – and has now been admitted to a clinic.

The Ansa news agency reported on Sunday that the reason for this was a routine medical examination.

In September 2020, Berlusconi spent eleven days in the hospital after being infected with the corona virus.

In the past year, he has therefore gone to the hospital several times for routine checks.

Prime Minister Draghi is interested in the post

In Italy, the President is elected by Parliament.

There are no official candidates for the election.

However, the party leaders usually try to find a candidate in advance who could receive broad support.

However, the election by secret ballot often takes days.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi is also interested in the position.

If the former head of the European Central Bank (ECB) were to be elected, a new head of government would have to be found in the midst of the corona pandemic, or the parliamentary elections would have to be brought forward by a year.

The head of state in Italy is elected for a term of seven years and, like in Germany, has largely representative and formal tasks.

However, the role has become increasingly important in recent years.

Incumbent Sergio Mattarella had to intervene several times to mediate in political crises.

muk/dpa