Silvio Berlusconi, bidding to become Italy’s prime minister for the third time in elections this weekend, on Friday lashed out at Europe’s central bankers, promised to make Israel his first overseas visit and predicted he would blitz his rivals if fraud did not stop him.

The billionaire opposition leader’s comments – made on the last day of campaigning before voting Sunday and Monday – followed a final rally in Rome where post-fascist allies pleased an enthusiastic but relatively small crowd by promising to rid the city of 20,000 immigrants as soon as they returned to power.