World to benefit from Donald Trump's leadership: Berlusconi

In the statement issued by his conservative Forza Italia party, he said he would be "forever grateful" to the US for having safeguarded freedom throughout the past century.

Rome, Nov 9 The US will ensure "authoritative and balanced" world leadership during the presidency of Donald Trump, Italy's ex-PM and billionaire media magnate Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday.

"The American people have chosen a President who will guarantee the US authoritative and balanced leadership in its arduous role at the helm of the free world and amid complex geopolitical equilibriums," he said.

"As a great democracy the US plays a crucial role in meeting the challenges of the 21st century, from the threats to peace, security and the world economy to terrorist and fundamentalist aggression," Berlusconi said.

In the statement issued by his conservative Forza Italia party, he said he would be "forever grateful" to the US for having safeguarded freedom throughout the past century.

Trump, a political outsider achieved a stunning victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's presidential election that revealed deep anti-establishment anger among American voters and which represents a leap into the political unknown.

IANS/AKI