Italians thought they had seen the last of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2011, when “Il Cavaliere”was forced from office amid corruption allegations and charges that he solicited sex from an underage prostitute. But Berlusconi is now the lead candidate to succeed Prime Minister Mario Monti, and will return to power if his lead holds through the elections to be held on Sunday and Monday. Europe is warning that Berluscnoi will send Italy into a tailspin from which it might not recover. Whatever happens in the next week, investor confidence in Italy will likely take a hit.
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