In the long term, no doubt, Mr Fini still aspires to the PdL leadership.
ECONOMIST: Silvio Berlusconi under fire: The sultan and the vizier | The
Mr Berlusconi recently chose the PdL's candidate for a key governorship without consulting its officials.
ECONOMIST: Silvio Berlusconi under fire: The sultan and the vizier | The
He took the decision after Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party (PdL) had withdrawn its support.
Corriere's poll gave the PdL less than 30% of the vote (compared with 37% two years ago).
Mr Berlusconi's health minister and PDL regional officials set about trying to thwart the judgment by bureaucratic means.
One recent poll put the PdL just 2.5 percentage points ahead of the biggest opposition group, the Democratic Party.
But Deborah Bergamini, a parliamentarian and member of Berlusconi's PDL party, is expecting a "surprise" result on February 25.
Some were no doubt disgusted former supporters of the Northern League, the PdL's coalition ally in the previous government.
The controversy comes weeks after the PDL did better than expected in a general election that provided no clear winner.
Other competitors in the healthcare sector include: PDL BioPharma Inc. (PDLI), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY).
He now no longer has the PdL's backing and says he'll resign as soon as next year's budget is passed.
There are signs too that the PdL could be conjured into a more lively attitude in the next few weeks.
ECONOMIST: Silvio Berlusconi under fire: The sultan and the vizier | The
In a recent speech, he proposed himself as Economy and Industry Minister, and the PdL Secretary Angelino Alfano as prime minister.
There was further disruption to Monday's trial when members of the PDL marched into the court building to demand it be suspended.
At second place in the polls is the center-right alliance led by Berlusconi's PdL, in coalition with the right-wing, anti-immigration Northern League.
On the day of the rating downgrade the government lost five parliamentary votes, largely because some PdL deputies failed to turn up.
Yet Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) still emerged with 35.3% of the vote, nine points ahead of the opposition Democratic Party (PD).
The result brought him back to earth, reminding him that Italians vote PdL for more complex reasons than blind love of its leader.
The People of Freedom (PDL) party has cancelled its leadership primary and a senior figure said Mr Berlusconi would run for PM again.
The MSI became the core of Mr Fini's National Alliance party, which in March was folded into Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) movement.
But by making himself more acceptable to the voters at large, Mr Fini risks alienating the PdL bigwigs who will choose Mr Berlusconi's successor.
Roberto Maroni said it was explicitly ruled out by an electoral pact between his Northern League party and Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL).
Despite the veteran politician's legal battles, he plans to run again for office, according to PDL Secretary General Angelino Alfano, quoted in Italian media.
Nevertheless, this is another major legal blow for Mr Berlusconi, whose People of Freedom (PdL) party is part of Italy's new coalition government, he adds.
His People of Freedom (PDL) party is hoping to form a centre-right coalition government with another party after it came second in inconclusive February elections.
President Basescu has close links with the centre-right opposition Democrat-Liberal Party (PDL), and Mr Ponta told journalists that trust between the two leaders was "zero".
That he received 2.7m was a personal setback, as was the fact that the PdL did better in local elections held at the same time.
For the PdL, on the other hand, the results were disastrous.
The crisis broke in late July, when Mr Fini's supporters formed their own group in parliament, but without leaving Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) movement.
His centre-right alliance PDL has been gaining ground but was still thought to be lagging behind the PD when a poll blackout was imposed earlier this month.
BBC: Italy election: Bersani, Monti, Berlusconi campaign ends
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