Italian center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi entertained a theater packed with supporters in Milan on Sunday evening, a week ahead of an election at which his coalition is expected to win the most votes.
During the rally, an unusual event in a campaign so far largely dedicated to TV talk shows, the 81-year-old spoke for more than two hours as around 1,000 fans cheered, clapped and waved the flag of his Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party.
Berlusconi, flashing a bright smile and showing little of the fatigue that has marked his recent appearances, said that Italy should not have a government made up only of politicians, but of leaders of corporations and culture as well, for politics to take a different direction.
Numerous legal cases, sex scandals, and a ban from office due to a 2013 tax fraud conviction have not reduced his personal appeal among die-hard fans.
Berlusconi supporters told Reuters they have faith that he is the right man for Italy and will make a triumphant return.
In the last polls published before the March 4 vote, the center-right coalition, including the far-right Northern League (Lega) and Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia), looked set to get the most seats but fall short of a working majority.