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ROME — Silvio Berlusconi, 71, Italy’s flamboyant billionaire politician, rode a wave of uncertainty about the country’s economic future to score a comeback victory for himself and his coalition in parliamentary voting that ended Monday.
His new People of Freedom bloc handed an harsh defeat to a coalition that united remnants of the defunct government of Romano Prodi.
Berlusconi is now in place to become prime minister. It will be the third time he takes the helm of Italy, which is suffering from near-zero economic growth, a staggering deficit and increasing public impatience with the political class.
Prodi, seeking to control deficits, was blamed by many Italians for raising taxes; Berlusconi promises to reduce them.
