Prime Minister Berlusconi has had to clarify his statements once more, after claiming during a meeting in Napoli, that his goverment would provide a house for "everyone in difficulty".
Yesterday, in Milan for the opening of a major motorcycle trade fair, Berlusconi said that "I never talked about a house for everyone. It's the usual disinformation that I'm always the victim of."
The centre-right leader said he had been referring to accommodation only for poor families that have been evicted from their homes.
The premier's words were immediately ridiculed by the centre-left opposition, which likened them to his famous pre-election slogan of 'lower taxes for everyone'.
"We are working on this project and we will present it in our election campaign," said Berlusconi, who is hoping to be re-elected in April general elections.
An estimated 600,000 people face eviction or have already been evicted in Italy in a crisis that has been exacerbated by soaring rents and home prices.
Speaking at a youth rally of his Forza Italia party last week, Berlusconi said he planned to help Italian families who were not homeowners.
"We are working on a great housing project for those 19% of Italian families (who do not own their own homes)... It's a feasible and realistic target which can be accomplished relatively quickly," the 69-year-old billionaire media magnate said.
While the premier maintains he has delivered on this promise, the opposition says the tax burden has gone up in Italy since he came to power because of an increase in indirect taxes such as local rates. It also argues a sharp rise in the cost of living in Italy has offset any tax reductions made by the government.
In other comments on Tuesday, Berlusconi again accused the opposition of demonising him.
"Fortunately, when I look in the mirror I feel reassured, because I see the face of a good person. If that weren't the case, I would be afraid to be alone with myself
given all the things they say about me," he said, adding that he was a "saint" because of all the work he does.
Meanwhile, Berlusconi's 95-year-old mother Rosa told reporters on the sidelines of an art show in Genoa that she was concerned over her son's workload.
"Silvio is very tired with everything he has to do... I often say to him that he should give up and let Italians get on with it, given that they attack him instead of appreciating what he does... But he loves Italy and has a deep sense of patriotism although he gets nothing in return," she said.
