Berlusconi's new People of Freedom party aims to dominate Italian politics
Yesterday's Times reported Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's ambition to create a party of the Right for Italy that is as powerful and stable as Germany's CDU or Britain's Conservative Party.
Italy's political party system has long been fragmented and Italy's Left is more fragmented today than for many years. But in a weekend of celebrations - costing nearly £3m - Berlusconi's Forza Italia party will merge with Gianfranco Fini's Alleanza Nazionale. The new party will be called the Popolo della Liberta (PDL). That's People of Freedom Party in English.
The Times highlights Mr Fini's efforts to distance his Alliance from his past:
Fini is currently a supporter of Berlusconi but, as The Economist has noted, has warned against "Caesarism" from Italy's increasingly powerful PM.
The PDL is expected to become the largest member of the EPP following June's elections to the European Parliament.
Italy's right-wing Northern League has chosen not to join the PDL.
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