Silvio Berlusconi wants to be Italian prime minister again and is preparing to present his candidacy for the 2013 elections, according to a newspaper report that was partially confirmed by the head of his party.

The report in the Corriere della Sera newspaper said Mr Berlusconi had based his decision on opinion polls which showed his People of Freedom (PDL) party could win up to 30 per cent with him as its head, instead of current leader Angelino Alfano, a former justice minister.

Even Mr Alfano is backing the decision, saying he is one of the people encouraging Mr Berlusconi to make a comeback.

Asked about the report, Mr Alfano said: "There is a major wave of support for Berlusconi to put forward his candidacy again.

"Many people are asking him to do this and I am one of them ... I think in the end he will decide to come back."

When he stepped down in November 2011, Mr Berlusconi signalled that Mr Alfano would take over the leadership of the party on a permanent basis, but the PDL suffered heavy losses in local elections earlier this year.

The former leader is still embroiled in a sex scandal that saw his popularity dive with Italians.

Mr Berlusconi is accused in of sleeping with an underage prostitute, Karima El-Mahroug, known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, and holding elaborate sex parties.

But despite the controversy, polls show that his PDL party would be much more popular with the flamboyant leader at the helm.

The report said: "The PDL without Berlusconi would only get 10 per cent, while if Alfano presented himself for the post of prime minister and Berlusconi supported him as head of the party, the results would be around 18 per cent.

"If on the other hand Berlusconi himself ran for prime minister with Alfano and a team of young politicians, he could win up to 30 per cent.

"The decision has been taken: Berlusconi will once against present his candidacy for the post of prime minister," the daily reported, without citing its sources, after incumbent Mario Monti reiterated he would step down in 2013.

Mr Berlusconi will be 76 when the elections are due in 2013.

ABC/AFP