Although he has vowed to fight on, Silvio Berlusconi’s conviction for tax fraud has fuelled speculation that his eldest daughter Marina, head of his $6.6 billion business empire, could take his place as leader of the centre-right in Italy.

Loyalists in his People of Freedom (PDL) party insist that the 76-year old Berlusconi remains firmly in charge and will continue his 20-year leadership of the centre right.

But the media mogul’s failure to overturn his conviction last week means he faces a year under house arrest or on community service, which would stretch even his formidable campaigning skills.

He is also likely to be ejected from the Senate in the autumn and be unable to stand as an electoral candidate.

This has boosted the idea that mother of two Marina, who turns 47 on Saturday, could become at least the figurehead for the PDL, despite her stated reluctance to enter politics.

Under this scenario, Berlusconi would continue to exercise major influence as the party’s founding father, but his daughter would play the more public and campaigning role.

Such speculation is encouraged by the fact that the PDL exists only because of Berlusconi and is totally dependent on his wealth and leadership.

“I’d rather have Berlusconi stay on for another round. That said, I am absolutely fine with Marina,” Daniela Santanche, one of Berlusconi’s staunchest supporters, told a TV talk show.

A front-page article at the weekend in the family’s newspaper il Giornale read: “Every day they ask her to enter politics. She says no. Perhaps it’s because she knows how to choose the right moment.”

Listed among the world’s most powerful women by US business magazine Forbes, Marina Berlusconi, who is married to a former La Scala ballet dancer, sits at the helm of Fininvest, a holding company that controls broadcaster Mediaset, publishing house Mondadori and soccer club AC Milan.

It also has a big stake in asset manager Mediolanum.