Italy's former premier Silvio Berlusconi has checked into a luxury health farm to get in shape and take a break from frontline politics, reports said Wednesday.
The website of the Corriere della Sera newspaper published pictures of Berlusconi waving from the balcony of La Maison du Relax, a resort by Lake Garda, where prices start at 2,400 euros (3,250 dollar) for a week of full-board accomodation and beauty treatments.
He was pictured with journalist Giovanni Toti, who is tipped to become Forza Italia's new top official.
The 77-year-old's girlfriend Francesca Pascale, who is 49 years his junior, was also said to be present. Berlusconi reportedly told allies before the Christmas holidays that he wanted to shed 7-8 kilograms, and asked the portly Toti to do the same so that he would look better in front of the cameras.
The former premier is back in the limelight after agreeing on the weekend to support efforts by his centre-left opponent, Democratic Party leader Matteo Renzi, to push through a new election law and other major political reforms.
He remains Forza Italia's leader, even though he was ejected from parliament in November due to a tax fraud conviction, and is due to front his campaign for the European Parliament elections, due on May 25.
Berlusconi checks in at health farm to lose weight
Italy's former premier Silvio Berlusconi has checked into a luxury health farm to get in shape and take a break from frontline politics, reports said Wednesday.
The website of the Corriere della Sera newspaper published pictures of Berlusconi waving from the balcony of La Maison du Relax, a resort by Lake Garda, where prices start at 2,400 euros (3,250 dollar) for a week of full-board accomodation and beauty treatments.
He was pictured with journalist Giovanni Toti, who is tipped to become Forza Italia's new top official.
The 77-year-old's girlfriend Francesca Pascale, who is 49 years his junior, was also said to be present. Berlusconi reportedly told allies before the Christmas holidays that he wanted to shed 7-8 kilograms, and asked the portly Toti to do the same so that he would look better in front of the cameras.
The former premier is back in the limelight after agreeing on the weekend to support efforts by his centre-left opponent, Democratic Party leader Matteo Renzi, to push through a new election law and other major political reforms.
He remains Forza Italia's leader, even though he was ejected from parliament in November due to a tax fraud conviction, and is due to front his campaign for the European Parliament elections, due on May 25.
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