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Italy's Berlusconi mistakenly backs rival candidate | Italy's Berlusconi mistakenly backs rival candidate |
(2 days later) | |
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi accidentally lent his support to an opponent, after turning up at the wrong political rally. | Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi accidentally lent his support to an opponent, after turning up at the wrong political rally. |
Mr Berlusconi arrived at the gathering in a square in the town of Segrate, outside Milan, with his bodyguards. | |
He asked someone for the name of the candidate, and then encouraged people to vote for him. | He asked someone for the name of the candidate, and then encouraged people to vote for him. |
"Vote Paolo," he said - only to be told the man was standing against Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia candidate. | "Vote Paolo," he said - only to be told the man was standing against Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia candidate. |
Paolo Micheli, a leftist who is running for mayor, later joked on his Facebook page that Mr Berlusconi's endorsement meant he was sure to win. | Paolo Micheli, a leftist who is running for mayor, later joked on his Facebook page that Mr Berlusconi's endorsement meant he was sure to win. |
Mr Berlusconi quickly left after being made aware of the mistake by his aides. Forza Italia's mayoral candidate, Tecla Fraschini, was holding a campaign event at a nearby hall. | Mr Berlusconi quickly left after being made aware of the mistake by his aides. Forza Italia's mayoral candidate, Tecla Fraschini, was holding a campaign event at a nearby hall. |
People across Italy are going to the polls on Sunday to elect regional governors town mayors. | People across Italy are going to the polls on Sunday to elect regional governors town mayors. |
Mr Berlusconi, 78, was prime minister three times between 1994 and 2011. | Mr Berlusconi, 78, was prime minister three times between 1994 and 2011. |
He announced plans for a political comeback earlier this year, after the country's highest court upheld his acquittal on charges of underage sex and abuse of office in March. | He announced plans for a political comeback earlier this year, after the country's highest court upheld his acquittal on charges of underage sex and abuse of office in March. |
However, several cases against him are still slowly advancing in Italian courts. | However, several cases against him are still slowly advancing in Italian courts. |
Mr Berlusconi remains banned from running for office and Forza Italia faces growing challenges for conservatives votes. | Mr Berlusconi remains banned from running for office and Forza Italia faces growing challenges for conservatives votes. |
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