Amid much speculation over Silvio Berlusconi’s next move after he was stripped of his immunity from prosecution, Il Giornale, his family-owned newspaper, on Monday proposed a change to the constitution that would pave the way for the 73-year-old prime minister to run for election as president.

Mr Berlusconi’s term does not expire until 2013 and he has repeatedly declared that he intends to remain in office until then, despite months of publicity over alleged sex scandals and the prospect of two trials resuming against him.