To the fans of Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s media mogul and former prime minister, his new party’s campaign launch was about more than ousting the centre-left government in next month’s elections and ending nearly two years in opposition.

With a typical display of crowd-pleasing showmanship in a Milan sports hall at the weekend, Mr Berlusconi demonstrated that, at 71, he still has the drive and energy for a fifth campaign and third term in office.