Italian Prime Minister and President of the PDL Silvio Berlusconi (R) speaks to the leader of the right-wing Northern League Umberto Bossi during a pre-electoral rally of his center-right party “Popolo della Liberta” (PDL) on March 20, 2010 in Rome. The media tycoon has said the elections in 13 of Italy’s 20 regions on March 28 and 29 will be a key barometer of his centre-right coalition’s performance since he returned to power for a third time in 2008. The Berlusconi camp is on the defensive after being hit by a series of embarrassments as top officials were caught up in corruption scandals. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI