SILVIO Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, fainted as he delivered a speech at a rally yesterday, fuelling speculation about the political future of the 70-year-old opposition leader.
Mr Berlusconi fell to the floor with his eyes closed as he was delivering the closing address at a gathering of young centre-right followers in the town of Montecatini Terme. He was taken off stage by aides to be assisted by his personal doctor.
An ambulance arrived on the scene but Mr Berlusconi appeared to make a swift recovery. He got to his feet after a few minutes to greet wellwishers before leaving the venue by car. He later boarded a nearby helicopter to fly to his home near Milan.
Mr Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, went on trial last week charged with fraud at the broadcaster Mediaset, which his family controls. He denies all wrongdoing. "He is feeling much better. He is walking on his own," his spokesman, Paolo Bonaiuti, said.
Other aides were equally reassuring. They said Mr Berlusconi had been taking antibiotics for a minor infection and suffered a sharp fall in blood pressure. They recalled he had had similar, brief episodes in the past which proved nothing to worry about.
Mr Berlusconi's doctor, Umberto Scarpagnini, said the former PM had lost consciousness "for a few seconds due to great fatigue and the extreme heat". To show that Mr Berlusconi had lost none of his high spirits, Mr Bonaiuti recounted that before leaving the venue he was examined by a heart specialist with a long beard. "When Berlusconi saw him he said, 'Oh my God, it's Bin Laden'," Mr Bonaiuti said.
In a message addressing his arch-rival as "Dear Silvio", the prime minister, Romano Prodi, said he was particularly disturbed and worried to hear about what happened. "I am sure it's a small problem and I wish you a rapid recovery," Mr Prodi said.
Despite Mr Berlusconi's apparently rapid recovery, the episode will increase speculation about his political future.
Mr Berlusconi has taken a surprisingly low profile since he narrowly lost the general election in April. Last week he denied a report that he told a private gathering he would not lead the centre-right at the next election, whenever it comes.
Mr Berlusconi's allies, the Northern League and the centrist Union of Christian Democrats (UDC), have distanced themselves from him even though the opposition is now well ahead of Mr Prodi's government, according to opinion polls.
The UDC leader, Pierferdinando Casini, has said Mr Berlusconi may not be the right man to lead the centre-right in the future.
Tensions in the opposition bloc have been exacerbated by the UDC's decision not to participate in a centre-right street protest against the government's belt-tightening 2007 budget.
