Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi is joining the race for the European Parliament. His centre-right Forza Italia party will participate in the elections in May.

The 82-year-old media billionaire is able to stand again for public office after the end of a ban related to a tax-fraud conviction that prevented him running in last year's general election, ANSA reported.

Berlusconi is the only Italian PM who managed to serve as PM for five years from 2001 to 2006.