Speculation builds over identity of Berlusconi's 'long-term girlfriend'

Despite claims the beleaguered prime minister has no steady girlfriend, the press have suggested he is dating one of four possibles: a Bulgarian heiress, a Neapolitan councillor, a nurse or a dental hygienist.

In a television interview hitting back at allegations of extortion and using under-age prostitutes, Mr Berlusconi, 74, denied the claims last weekend, saying he was in a "stable intimate relationship with a woman".

Although opposition leaders have dismissed this as a bid by Mr Berlusconi to distance himself from sleaze allegations, the media and bookmakers are having a field day.

Among the favourites is Francesca Pascale, 25, a former TV showgirl and now a regional councillor from Naples and an activist with Mr Berlusconi's ruling People of Freedom party.

Ms Pascale said she could "not possibly comment" but added: "Berlusconi is an adorable man. I'm fascinated by him, by what he says, by what he thinks."

Another contender was nurse and Miss Turin beauty queen Roberta Bonasia, 26. She denied the claims even as it emerged from transcripts in magistrates' investigations of the PM on suspicion of abuse of office and having sex with an under-age prostitute that she had been the topic of conversation between news presenter Emilio Fede and showbusiness agent Lela Mora.

Both men are also under investigation in the same prostitution probe as Mr Berlusconi and in the transcript Ms Mora is said to say to Mr Fede: "He (Berlusconi] is really taken with Roberta."

Other possibilities are Anglo-Italian regional councillor, dental hygienist and former TV showgirl Nicole Minetti - also part of the probe, and Federica Gagliardi, seen with Mr Berlusconi at a summit in Canada.

A late runner was last night named as Darina Pavlova, a Bulgarian heiress, whose husband was shot dead in a gangland hit and who has been a regular at Mr Berlusconi's holiday villa.

Her husband Iliya was assassinated in March 2003, and she is one of Europe's richest women. In June 2009, Mr Berlusconi was caught off guard by TV microphones talking about her at a summit in Brussels.

Speaking to Bulgarian premier Sergei Stanishev, Mr Berlusconi jojked: "The truth is Pavlova has a fantastic daughter - and you know my interest in minors." At the time he was at the centre of controversy following revelations of his friendship with 18-year-old lingerie model Noemi Letizia.

Celebrity hairdresser Massimo Topo told Italian TV: "I don't want any mud thrown at Darina, she is a splendid person.Before speaking to you (TV] I called her and asked if it was OK to speak and she said 'yes' because she wanted the truth to come out and be heard.

"Darina calls Berlusconi her soulmate and says he is wonderful, affectionate and sensitive - they have in fact known each other for more than three years. It's a serious love story and they are deeply in love."

Mr Berlusconi scraped through a confidence vote last month and last week Italy's top court overthrew part of a law that gave him immunity.

The current investigation focuses on Karima Keyek el-Mahroug - aka Ruby Rubicuore, an 18-year-old Moroccan who attended Mr Berlusconi's parties when she was 17 and, say prosecutors, was paid to have sex with him. Having sex with a prostitute aged under 18 is an offence in Italy. "Prostitution, minors, abuse of power: it makes you sick," said Oliviero Diliberto of the Left Federation.