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Berlusconi strengthens coalition Berlusconi creates rightist bloc
(1 day later)
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is preparing to create a powerful new centre-right party called People of Freedom. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has created a powerful new centre-right party called People of Freedom.
The three-day founding congress of the bloc will formally fuse Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia with the "post-Fascist" National Alliance of Gianfranco Fini. The three-day founding congress of the bloc formally fuses Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia with the "post-Fascist" National Alliance of Gianfranco Fini.
The coalition will unite two of the three main Italian groups on the right. The coalition unites two of the three main Italian groups on the right.
Mr Fini used to be politically close to the ideology of Italy's wartime Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.Mr Fini used to be politically close to the ideology of Italy's wartime Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
But since the end of the 1990s the National Alliance has shifted towards the mainstream of Italian politics and Mr Fini has distanced himself from Mussolini's policies. But since the end of the 1990s, the National Alliance has shifted towards the mainstream of Italian politics and Mr Fini has distanced himself from Mussolini's policies.
He dissolved the National Alliance - created in 1995 - at a congress on 22 March. He is currently Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house.He dissolved the National Alliance - created in 1995 - at a congress on 22 March. He is currently Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house.
Third term
Mr Berlusconi told the congress in Rome: "We want with this (patriotic) spirit to open a new page of a new season, a season that will be decisive for the weight the Italy will have in Europe and in the world."
In elections last April Mr Berlusconi, a media tycoon and Italy's richest man, won a third term as prime minister.In elections last April Mr Berlusconi, a media tycoon and Italy's richest man, won a third term as prime minister.
The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Liberta) coalition is expected to make the Italians a stronger force in the European Parliament's largest party grouping - the conservative EPP-ED - after the June European elections.The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Liberta) coalition is expected to make the Italians a stronger force in the European Parliament's largest party grouping - the conservative EPP-ED - after the June European elections.
The right-wing Northern League has opted to stay outside the People of Freedom.The right-wing Northern League has opted to stay outside the People of Freedom.