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GUEST: Diletta Varlese, FSRN Correspondent in Italy

Italians went to the polls this week to choose a new prime minister. The official winner of the election is centre-left leader Romano Prodi. But incumbent leader, Silvio Berlusconi is contesting the results and has called for a vote recount. Berlusconi is Italy’s richest man, estimated to be worth $12 billion. He essentially controls the media in Italy – his investment company controls the three biggest private television stations. And his appointees run the public ones. He runs a business empire that also includes advertising, insurance, food, and construction. Berlusconi has fought off repeated allegations of corruption. He has also been a staunch ally of US President Bush in the war on Iraq.