You're reading: Berlusconi aide says he’ll run for office in 2013

ROME — A top official of Silvio Berlusconi's conservative party says the media mogul will run in elections next spring to regain the premiership he quit when Italy's financial crisis worsened. 

Italian news agency LaPresse quoted Fabrizio Cicchitto, a Freedom People party parliamentary whip, as saying Berlusconi will make the official announcement at some point.

Cicchitto spoke to reporters Thursday evening after party leaders huddled with Berlusconi at the ex-premier’s Rome residence. Current Premier Mario Monti, an economist, has ruled out running for office when his term ends in 2013. Monti was tapped to lead a technocrat government last fall after financial markets pressures triggered Berlusconi’s resignation at the height of Italy’s financial crisis.

The Northern League party, Berlusconi’s longtime coalition ally, no longer supports him, complicating his re-election bid.