Disgraced Berlusconi may be the king maker

Silvio Berlusconi Forza Italia

A conviction for tax fraud means Silvio Berlusconi cannot run for office but the four-time premier could emerge as the kingmaker in the Italian general election today. The billionaire media tycoon, 81, was forced to quit as prime minister in November 2011 as Italy’s borrowing costs soared to unsustainable levels. His era at the helm of Italian politics was also plagued by sex scandals and legal troubles. But polls suggest his alliance of centre-right groups will be the largest bloc in today’s election, which could mean he ends up pulling the strings of power once again.

Luigi Di Maio 5-Star Movement

At 31, Luigi Di Maio would be Italy’s youngest prime minister yet. Elected as the 5-Star Movement’s leader in September, he is seen to represent a more moderate wing of the party, with its founder Beppe Grillo increasingly distant from campaign events. Mr Di Maio has toned down the party’s Euroscepticism and sought to reassure foreign capitals that it can be trusted with power. But despite polls suggesting the movement will emerge as the biggest single party, its opposition to coalition-building means he is unlikely to be given a chance to govern.

Matteo Renzi Democratic Party

Matteo Renzi, 39, served as prime minister between 2014 and 2016 but was forced to resign after losing a referendum on constitutional reform. He was replaced by foreign affairs minister Paolo Gentiloni, but he hopes to once again lead his centre-left party to victory. However, support for the party has eroded steadily in recent years because of prolonged budget austerity and sluggish economic growth in Italy. Mr Renzi’s approval ratings have slid along with those of his party’s fortunes, and his problems have been compounded by internal leadership battles.

Giorgia Meloni Brothers of Italy

Giorgia Meloni, 41, is at the helm of the Brothers of Italy, a party with fascist roots. Support for her party is at just 5 per cent, according to polls, but its importance has been elevated as a junior partner in Mr Berlusconi’s coalition. The far-right congresswoman has said she aspires to be prime minister, but she is unlikely to be given that opportunity even if the coalition prevails. She has campaigned on a strong Italyfirst platform, opposes samesex marriage, and has called for a re-evaluation of EU treaties that underpin the euro.

Matteo Salvini The League

Matteo Salvini is the leader of The League (formerly Northern League), a populist and Eurosceptic party which is also in Mr Berlusconi’s rightwing coalition. He has led the party since 2013, and has been a member of the European Parliament since 2004. Mr Salvini is staunchly opposed to immigration and his party has links with other far-right parties in Europe, including the Freedom Party of Austria and France’s National Front.