PD will scupper own government says Berlusconi

(ANSA) – Rome, December 4 – Three-time premier Silvio Berlusconi implied Wednesday that his arch-enemy the Democratic Party (PD) will likely call for early elections if Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi wins the party primaries as expected.

Renzi, 38, is the clear favorite to take over PD leadership in the December 8 primary vote, which is open to all Italians. Premier Enrico Letta, also from the PD, is not running for the position, and the main question facing the party in case of a Renzi win is whether he will give the premier his full support or undermine him from a distance and, ultimately, challenge him as a candidate for the post of premier in snap elections.

“I can’t make any forecasts, but I know many believe that once Renzi becomes party secretary, he won’t be able to deal with the huge workload that being secretary entails. So the party itself will likely decide to go to the polls”, Berlusconi said at a book launch for journalist Bruno Vespa.