ROME -- Although the ongoing economic and social crisis is considered the priority by the new Italian government, it is quite absent from the political debate, which focuses on the unexpected return of "Berlusconism."

Silvio Berlusconi, the three-time premier whose television networks have shaped generations, not only is again one of the key political figures in Italy, but the personal and legal scandals that have marked his life since he entered politics in 1994 grew more serious this month.

Berlusconi's center-right People of Freedom party came second in the February elections and he is now a key partner in the coalition government. But if the supreme court confirms last week's four-year conviction for fraud, disqualification from public office will have immediate effect.

The 76-year-old has intensified his claims that he was the victim of persecution from left-wing judges and has earned the headlines of newspapers and television programs while Italy is confronting with new negative economic figures every day.

"Of course all media care about him. Pollsters say that if early elections were held, Berlusconi would likely win," Massimo Cacciari, a philosopher and frequent commentator, told Xinhua.

This creates a potential conflict of interest: Berlusconi has pledged to support the new government but could be the beneficiary if it falls down.

In fact, the return of Berlusconism, according to political observers, was mainly due to the complete inadequacy of the center-left Democratic Party, his main opponent and present ally in the coalition cabinet of Prime Minister Enrico Letta, which fell victim of irreparable internal divisions.

Beppe Severgnini, an author and columnist of Corriere della Sera newspaper, said there is a talent for populism behind the extraordinary success of one of the most popular figures in Italy's history: "he has the incredible ability to tell his electors what they exactly want to hear."

In his nearly 20 years in politics, Berlusconi has won the strong support of a social bloc composed by television viewers by juxtaposing different interests in a perimeter bound his rhetorical strength.

"A real leader should have the courage to also say unpleasant things. Berlusconi instead has the spasmodic need to be loved, he desperately needs a public," Severgnini, who has written a specific book on Berlusconi, told Xinhua.

"The variety of every sort of businesses and scandals allow him to fill all pages, from report and legal to gossip, society and sports news. Only weather forecast is missing, but he may fabricate something. He is a professional reassurer, able to maintain that a tap broke in front of a dam failure," the author said.

Nevertheless, in his view Berlusconism is destined to crumble too in the framework of a crisis which needs true answers and solutions. "We have to remember that although his party won almost one third of total votes, it has lost some six million electors," Severgnini noted. Could be the end of Berlusconism the beginning of a new era for Italy?