Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who has announced his decision to step down once parliament approves an economic austerity measure, said Wednesday he will not run again for office, DPA reported.
"The candidate premier (for Berlusconi's people of Freedom Party) will be (party secretary Angelino) Alfano," Berlusconi told the Turin daily La Stampa.
Berlusconi said he believed the economic measures could be approved in a matter of "days," but said he did not believe parliament would be able to support any new government without fresh polls.
"I only see elections for February, elections in which I will not be a candidate," Berlusconi told La Stampa.