Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition has gained ground according to opinion polls ahead of next month's elections.
This could make it harder for Italy's left to form a stable parliamentary majority, polls suggested today.
The centre left still looked on course to get most seats after the 24-25 February vote and lead efforts to tackle recession and unemployment in the eurozone's third-largest economy.
A survey by the Tecne research institute for SkyTG24 showed the former prime minister's alliance on 26% overall, up 1.6% compared to yesterday.
His centre-left rivals, led by Pier Luigi Bersani, were still far ahead with 37.8 %.
The centre-left was down 0.8% points compared to the previous poll.
The centrist grouping of outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti fell 1.3 points to 14.5%.
Mr Berlusconi told the Domenica Live programme on his own Canale 5 TV channel: "I believe we are on a good path to get back all the people who voted for us in 2008 and also to convince some more. We sincerely think we have the possibility to win."
His image will be under close scrutiny on Monday when the nightclub dancer who is the main witness in the sex case against him is due to testify in a Milan court.
One of his lawyers said on Saturday that he was considering asking for the trial to be suspended until after the election.
The media mogul's People of Freedom (PDL) party unveiled its logo for the vote, with the words "Berlusconi President," written in bold beneath stripes in the colours of the Italian flag.
The use of his name surprised some Italians as Mr Berlusconi said last week that he would withdrew as candidate for prime minister as the price of a pact with the pro-devolution Northern League.
League leader Roberto Maroni said he was not concerned by the logo and that the words just reflected the fact that Mr Berlusconi is the head of his own PDL party, rather than suggesting he would seek his fifth term as premier.
