Italy's election woos left in swing region Sicily

PALERMO, Italy - A live rock band and a charismatic warm-up act set the stage on Wednesday for the man introduced to Sicilians - whose votes matter more than most in an election in a few days' time - as "Italy's next prime minister".

The American-style build-up meant Pier Luigi Bersani, the leader of the Democratic Party (PD), struggled to make his rhetoric match the occasion, as he addressed the party faithful in a rally in one of two crucial swing regions.

Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gestures as he appears as a guest on the RAI television show Porta a Porta (Door to Door) in Rome Feb 20, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Four days before polls open, Bersani is hoping Sicily, the southern island where a decade ago blanket support for centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi wiped out the left completely, will swing back his way.

Along with Lombardy in the north, results from Sicily could decide whether the PD - which polls tip to win the lower house of parliament - can get enough seats in the Senate to rule Italy without risk of government collapse.

While Berlusconi promised tax cuts - even to pay some already collected back into Italians' bank accounts - Bersani has repeatedly told voters he rejects "fairy tales" and would stick with policies of Mario Monti's technocrat administration that was formed to pull Italy back from financial collapse.

As the 61-year-old expounded the merits of fiscal rigour - in words that seemed aimed at reassuring the holders of Italy's vast public debt - he appeared to lose the attention of supporters outside Palermo's opera house.

But he had only to invoke Berlusconi, a bogey-man for the left which says he did as much damage to Italy's reputation abroad as to its economy, to wake them up.

"We have heard from Berlusconi promises of 4 million jobs and we are still waiting for the first million from 10 years ago," said Bersani, who derided the media magnate and four-time prime minister as a "pharaoh" and "emperor".

ANTIDOTE

As an antidote to Berlusconi's slick populism, Bersani, who was industry minister in the last centre-left government which fell in 2008, is seen by his fans as the perfect person to lead the PD back to power.

But taking the stage after the candidate he beat into second place in the primaries, the photogenic 38-year-old mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, some PD supporters wondered if they chose the wrong man.

With a stylish open-necked shirt contrasting with balding Bersani's red tie, Renzi flattered Sicilians by telling them their votes were worth twice that of other Italians due to the region's strategic importance.

"It's like you have a double vote," he told the crowd. "It's like you have a joker to play."