Berlusconi will not run for the top office again in the upcoming elections.

 

　　He said it was still not clear whom the centre-right coalition would back to run as Prime Minister.

 

　　"If they think that I would be useful for the government, the position that would let my best express all my experience would be the position of Minister of Finance. That would allow me to show once again, that I have no political ambition, and I don't think of politics as something that gives me advantages."

 

　　Berlusconi's last government ended in November 2011 under pressure from financial markets, which expressed a lack of confidence in his ability to reform Italy's economy.

 

　　Opinion polls have shown that Berlusconi's conservative party gaining since he pulled its support for Prime Minister Mario Monti's government last month.

 

　　The national election is scheduled to be held late next month, shaping up into a race among Monti, Berlusconi and Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani.