This week’s polls have revealed a slight drop in support for MS5, launched by flamboyant former comedian Beppe Grillo and led by Luigi Di Maio – but the party commands 26.8 percent of the vote, which would give it a significant Parliamentary presence following March 4’s vote.
Overall, the centre-right coalition of parties which includes Mr Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (FI) are on course to win 37.6 percent of the vote, up 1.5 percent compared with with last week.
The FI itself has increased in popularity by 0.9 percent compared with last week, from 14.8 to 15.7 percent, a fact widely attributed to the so-called “Berlusconi effect”.
Noi con l’Italia-UDC (Us With Italy) and the right-wing Lega Nord, or Northern League, record more modest gains, up from 2.2 to 2.6 percent, and 13.6 to 13.8 percent respectively, and Fratelli D’Italia (Brothers of Italy) is unchanged compared with last week on 5.5 per cent.
Noi con l’Italia-UDC (Us With Italy) and the right-wing Lega Nord, or Northern League, record more modest gains, up from 2.2 to 2.6 percent, and 13.6 to 13.8 percent respectively, and Fratelli D’Italia (Brothers of Italy) is unchanged compared with last week on 5.5 per cent.
In contrast, the centre-left coalition continues to lose ground, albeit by a minimal 0.2 percent, with a current standing of 28.2 percent. The vast majority of this is made up of support for the Democratic Party, which is down by 0.3 percent, from 24.1 to 23.8 percent.
The left wing Liberia e Uguali (Free and Equal) has increased in popularity by 0.4 percent to 6 percent.
Significantly, the number of people who are saying they are unlikely to vote has increased by 1.3 percent in a week, with more than a third prepared to abstain. A further 15.1 percent are undecided who to vote for, 0.6 percent down on last week.
81-year-old Mr Berlusconi’s political resurrection since he resigned as Prime Minister has been gradual.
In 2013, he refounded Forza Italia, but in that same year he was convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to four years in prison, of which three was automatically pardoned. Because he was older than 70, he was exempt from jail, and instead undertook unpaid community service.
New legislation banned him from serving in any legislative office for six years, but this did not apparently deter his political ambitions – despite the fact that he will not be able to take a government job until next year.
The outspoken politician remains popular in Italy.
(Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.)