Silvio Berlusconi on Friday said he was optimistic that Italian designated prime minister Enrico Letta would form a ruling coalition, ruling out a ministerial role for himself, dpa reported.
"I have heard the president wants a new generation of (cabinet) members and a significant presence of women. This excludes me, who however had no desire to be there," Berlusconi told the Tgcom 24 news bulletin.
"The prime minister designate has had a positive attitude and I have been very comforted by my nearly two-hour meeting with him," the former prime minister said. "There are no real problems" to forming a government, he added.
Letta, who is the deputy leader of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), has the difficult task of securing the widest possible support in order to resolve the political crisis that has engulfed Italy since February's inconclusive elections.
The left-wing politician has so far secured support from Berlusconi's conservative People of Freedom (PDL) party and a coalition of centrists led by outgoing prime minister Mario Monti.
Beppe Grillo's protest Five Star Movement, the Northern League as well as far-left and far-right parties will remain in opposition.
Letta, who briefed President Giorgio Napolitano on his coalition-building efforts, is expected to submit his list of cabinet ministers and be sworn in at the weekend. Confidence votes in parliament are expected to start on Monday.