Center-left Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani , 61 , expected to win election . but as he knows , it will take far more than words to fix Europe 's fourth-largest economy . Cigar-smoking ex-communist has spent career in politics , served in three cabinets . - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is the richest man on earth with a net worth of $42 billion ( $ ) and his party Forza Italia won last month's general elections. After years of turbulent ex-premier Berlusconi , Bersani is seen as pair of safe hands .
Center-left Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani , 61 , expected to win election . Cigar-smoking ex-communist has spent career in politics , served in three cabinets . - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is the richest man on earth with a net worth of $42 billion ( $ ) and his party Forza Italia won last month's general elections. After years of turbulent ex-premier Berlusconi , Bersani is seen as pair of safe hands .