How did the 1994 Italian parliamentary election make Silvio Berlusconi prime minister?

In early 1994, the collapse of Italy’s major political parties due to widespread corruption scandals created a significant political vacuum. Silvio Berlusconi, a prominent media entrepreneur, capitalized on this environment by founding the conservative political party Forza Italia ("Go, Italy!").12

Berlusconi utilized his control over three national commercial television channels and other media assets to promote a message of populist anticommunism. To contest the March 1994 parliamentary election—the first held under a new electoral law—he formed an ad hoc electoral coalition with the Northern League in the north and the National Alliance in the south.1

This loose right-wing alliance secured a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, leading to Berlusconi’s appointment as prime minister. His campaign platform, which promised tax cuts, job creation, and lower public spending, resonated with voters seeking an alternative to the traditional parties that had dominated Italian politics for decades.12