Berlusconi launches his heir apparent

After a tough year of personal scandals, three trials, falling ratings and defections from his ruling party, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was said to have set in motion the process of crowning his possible successor from the next generation while leaving open the option of still leading Italy's centre-right into the next elections.

The 74-year-old prime minister heaped praise on Angelino Alfano, his loyal, 40-year-old Sicilian justice minister, who was unanimously acclaimed in the newly created post of party secretary at a People of Liberty leadership conference in Rome on the 1 July 2011

ESO: Background information: Voters reject Berlusconi reforms http://www.europeansources.info/record/voters-reject-berlusconi-reforms/

ESO: Background information: Italy’s finance minister in leadership fight http://www.europeansources.info/record/italys-finance-minister-in-leadership-fight/

BBC News, 8.7.11: Italy's Berlusconi sees Angelino Alfano as successor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14077235

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