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Silvio Berlusconi has formed a new coalition and will once again be Italy's prime minister.

Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned from the Italian prime ministership three days ago, is back at the helm Saturday as the next leader of a new government. He presented a Cabinet to Italy's president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Berlusconi will be the prime minister in a new government to be sworn in later in the day.

Ciampi Friday asked Berlusconi to form the government after Berlusconi quit as prime minister Wednesday. That resignation sparked political consultations among Ciampi and other politicians over a new government. Berlusconi said Friday he expected to go before parliament for a confidence vote next week. The conservative leader said the government's new platform would focus on aiding Italy's underdeveloped south and financially pressed families -- as demanded by some of his political allies, including the powerful National Alliance party.

Berlusconi resigned from the prime ministership Wednesday, sparking political consultations among Ciampi and other politicians. Up until Wednesday, Berlusconi had led Italy's longest-serving government since World War II.

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