In Italy, the centre-right coalition led by media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, has swept to victory in Sunday's General Elections. The BBC's Frances Kennedy reports from Rome.

16th May 2001

Italy's richest businessman, Silvio Berlusconi, wins Italian General Election

The media tycoon who governed Italy briefly in 1994 will return to the Prime Minister's office in a much stronger position. Mr Berlusconi's alliance of moderate and right-wing parties has an absolute majority in the Senate - a hundred and seventy-seven seats to the a hundred and twenty-eight of the centre-left Olive Alliance. In the lower house, they will have an even bigger margin. The decisive result followed an especially bitter campaign concentrating closely on the persona of Mr Berlusconi, Italy's wealthiest businessman. Concerns about the conflict between private and public interests expressed by the international media seem to have had little influence on voters.

alliance: if a group of two or more countries or political parties formally unite to work together for the same aims, they have formed an alliance

moderate: something or someone that does not have extreme views or opinions

right-wing: something or someone that supports conservatism and capitalism

bigger margin: (in this case) winning even more seats than others

decisive result: an outcome that was very clear

bitter campaign: a campaign is a plan of action to achieve something, such as social or political change, and a bitter campaign is one which is fought fiercely and angrily

Appearing live on a television talk show from his villa near Milan, Mr Berlusconi said he would maintain his electoral promises and his first moves would be to abolish inheritance tax and block a reform of Italy's school system. Mr Berlusconi received a congratulatory message from President Bush, though the White House has not released the text. Some European governments have been reticent in recognising the government of Mr Berlusconi.

abolish: if you abolish a system or practice, you put an end to it

inheritance tax: money paid to a government from the estate of a dead person

block: prevent something from happening

reform: change or improve a system, law or institution

has not released the text: has not made it public

reticent: if you are reticent about something, you do not want to talk about it