The 85-year-old had been campaigning behind the scenes for weeks to replace outgoing President Sergio Mattarella.

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced he will not be running for president in a statement, removing an obstacle to cross-party negotiations ahead of the vote in parliament beginning on January 24.

The nomination of Prime Minister Mario Draghi is seen as the most probable outcome, but it is still unclear whether the broad sweep of parties that support his coalition will endorse him for fear his departure could trigger an early national election.

Berlusconi said he wanted the former European Central Bank president to remain at the helm of the government until the natural end of the legislature, in 2023.

In a statement during a virtual meeting on Saturday with fellow right-wing leaders, Berlusconi insisted he had the numbers, but in the spirit of “national responsibility”, said he had asked those who put forward his name to withdraw it.

“Today, Italy needs unity,” he said, noting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “I will continue to serve my country in other ways.”

Berlusconi’s rightist allies, Matteo Salvini’s League and the Brothers of Italy, said they appreciated his decision [File: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters]

The rightist coalition had asked Berlusconi to run for president, but his bid was unlikely to be successful due to difficulties in mustering the broad support traditionally needed among the more than 1,000 legislators and regional delegates involved.

Berlusconi is a highly divisive figure in Italy and the centre-left camp had already ruled out backing him.

He was temporarily barred from public office after a conviction for tax fraud in 2013, and is still on trial in the latest of a series of instances for bribing witnesses in an underage prostitution case tied to his infamous “Bunga Bunga” sex parties more than 10 years ago.

Italy’s president is a largely ceremonial position but plays a crucial arbitrating role during political crises and wields significant political influence over the seven-year term.

No clear winner

The winner of the secret parliamentary vote needs a two-thirds majority in any of the first three rounds of voting. An absolute majority is sufficient thereafter.

Neither the centre-right nor the centre-left bloc has enough votes to impose a candidate from their own camp, meaning some sort of compromise is needed to prevent a prolonged deadlock.

“We will work with the leaders of the centre-right … to agree on a name that can gather a broad consensus in parliament,” Berlusconi’s statement said.

Berlusconi’s rightist allies, Matteo Salvini’s League and the Brothers of Italy, said they appreciated his decision.

In a statement, Salvini said the centre-right bloc was united and ready to make several “high-profile” proposals.