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The 80-year-old's three terms as Prime Minister were rocked by frequent controversies, before he was forced to quit in 2011. But political experts predict he could make a comeback by becoming Italy's "new kingmaker" in the upcoming poll. Dr Kostas Maronitis, of Leeds Trinity University, said Mr Berlusconi's centre-right party Forza Italia had been boosted by local election results.

The centre-right parties did very well at the local elections Dr Kostas Maronitis

He told Express.co.uk: "The centre-right parties led by Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini [of Lega Norda] did very well at the local elections. "Berlusconi might be the new kingmaker in the terms of who's going to be in power in the upcoming elections. "It will be very interesting to see if Berlusconi will collaborate with Germany and France, or if he's going to be more populist.

GETTY Former Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi could hold the balance of power

In pictures: Crises that have crippled Italy Thu, November 2, 2017 The European Union has warned that Italy's economy is not improving Play slideshow EPA 1 of 9 November 2016: Florence erupts in violence as anti-Renzi protesters clash with riot cops. Hooded youths attacked lines of cops protecting embattled prime minister Matteo Renzi, who was in the city for crunch political talks.

"As the head of a centre-right party, he won't argue for a complete, radical break with the EU, but he might be critical of the EU. "There is place for right wing politics in Italy, but I'm not sure if Italian people have the stamina to leave the European Union. "The idea of staying in the EU but hoping to reform it in some way would be more appealing to the Italian electorate."

GETTY Berlusconi's three terms in power were rocked by controversies

Dr Maronitis said there were several factors behind Berlusoconi's recent resurgence. He said: "It might be down to nostalgia movement, the Italian people might think times were better under his premiership. "Another reason is the great disappointment of the eurosceptic populists like Beppe Grillo of the Five Star Movement (M5S), which has lost momentum. "Berlusconi's potential success at the forthcoming election rests on the inability or impotence of his political opponents."

GETTY The Italian general election is due to be held before spring 2018