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Berlusconi not

optimistic about

early elections

ROME: Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was quoted on Wednesday as saying he did not believe the early general election he has sought since his resignation would take place until it suited his opponents.

La Stampa newspaper, reporting what it said was an informal telephone interview with the media magnate and leader of the centre-right Freedom Alliance, also quoted him as saying he intended to stay out of active politics until a vote was called.

"I don't decide when an election is going to take place. Far from it. The more I ask for one the less inclined they are to give it to me," he said.

Berlusconi, who shot to victory as a political newcomer in a general election in March 1994, was forced to resign as prime minister last December when his stormy coalition fell apart.

Former central banker Lamberto Dini has since headed a government of technocrats but has recently made clear his desire to stay on with a broadly-backed mandate to tackle reform and see Italy through its six-month presidency of the European Union starting in January.

His administration has been backed so far in parliament by centrist and leftist parties opposed to Berlusconi.

Elections would be held when President Scalfaro was sure the outcome would allow him to stay in office and when the centre-left was sure it could win, Berlusconi was quoted as saying.

Dini, who is due to present a draft 1996 budget to parliament next month, has said he will offer to resign after the legislature has approved new rules on media access for political parties, a step expected in October.

Parliament must then decide whether to give Dini an extended lease of life or precipitate an early general election.

Political parties are divided over the way forward, with centrists in both main blocs eager to back Dini.-Reuter