THE billionaire Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, could be obliged to choose between politics and his extensive business interests if, as the polls predict, he is beaten by his left-of-centre rival in next weekend’s parliamentary elections.

The opposition, led by Romano Prodi, 66, a former European commission president, has called in its manifesto for a tightening of the rules on conflict of interest to prevent holders of public office having an active involvement in business.

Although Prodi and his allies are divided over how precisely this would work, the document cites Berlusconi, 69, who controls a media empire, including four private television stations, as proof of the need for reform.

The prime minister’s critics have long been angered by what they claim is the partisan tone adopted by his channels. The opposition claims that during one week last month, 65.9% of the channels’ political coverage was devoted to Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party, compared with just 3.5% for Prodi’s main ally, the Democrats of the Left. One channel, Rete 4, routinely used a photograph showing Prodi from behind, his head in his hands.

Massimo D’Alema, leader of the Democrats, said the prime minister should face a stark choice: sell his television empire or leave public life. “If Berlusconi loves politics, he will have to hand over his companies to his children,” D’Alema said.

Questions remain about whether a Prodi government could enforce such a measure. “This is not easy to resolve,” said Sergio Romano, a political commentator.

“The constitution rules out forcing someone to sell their business, and the problem is that Berlusconi owns his companies.”

Despite his media appearances, Berlusconi appears to be trailing his rival. Although opinion polls cannot be published at this late stage in the campaign, his coalition is thought to be three to six points behind Prodi’s in the run-up to the April 9-10 vote.

Berlusconi has cast himself as the victim of a vendetta, retorting that the threats levelled at him and his companies show Italy is not a true democracy. “We live in a country in which one side must be afraid of the other side winning,” he said.

The prime minister nevertheless has ample reason to fear not only his opponents but also his own junior coalition partners. Gianfranco Fini, 54, head of the right-wing National Alliance, pointedly described Berlusconi as leader of their coalition “at least” until April 10.

Pier Ferdinando Casini, 50, who leads the Christian Democrats, rebuked Berlusconi for his strategy, calling a lacklustre television debate with Prodi last month “a missed opportunity”.

Casini also reacted icily to Berlusconi’s proposal for coalition parties to merge into a single new force to be known as the Party of the Italian People. “For now, let’s think of winning the elections,” he added.

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