Berlusconi joins Tik Tok in bid to garner younger generation votes

Ahead of the September general election in Italy, 85-year-old Silvio Berlusconi joins TikTok.  Along with Italy’s other political leaders he is trying to woo younger voters who may abstain from the vote in large numbers.

Berlusconi’s debut video on the social media channel started, “Hi guys, here I am! Welcome to my official TikTok channel!”

Filmed sitting behind a desk wearing a suit and tie, Berlusconi was the subject of much mockery online. Users discussed his permanent tan, “Silvio, what foundation do you wear?” and his face frozen by cosmetic surgery.

Despite the mockery, the video had received almost 500,0000 “likes”. Berlusconi also has 3million followers.

Berlusconi could go viral

A second video followed shortly, with Berlusconi still in a suit but sitting in a chair and telling a self-deprecating joke involving Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis.

Both videos ended with him moving his head from side to side in time to saying good-bye “on Tik Tok”.

@silvio.berlusconi

Salve ragazzi, ci siamo incontrati per la prima volta su TikTok, che per quanto mi riguarda avrei preferito chiamare Tik Tok Tak. Cosi è più completo! Vi ho detto che vi avrei intrattenuti su argomenti che possono riguardarvi da vicino. Ma ho pensato anche che per mantenere i rapporti con gli altri bisogna tendere alla massima cordialità. Uno degli strumenti per arrivare a farlo sono le barzellette, perchè sono terapeutiche. Poi penseremo a parlare di programmi. Tik Tok Tak! #silvioberlusconi #berlusconi #forzaitlia🇮🇹

♬ suono originale – Silvio Berlusconi

With TikTok, Berlusconi and his fellow leaders are hoping to reach younger voters.

Only half of young Italians plan to vote

According to a survey published last month by digital outlet Open Online, only half of Italians aged between 18 and 35 plan to vote on September 25.

The Democratic Party’s leader, Enrico Letta, said on Friday the election result is for from a foregone conclusion, with 40% of voters undecided. He particularly referenced the younger voters, “Young people have not yet decided who to vote for. Everything is still to play for in this match”.

Berlusconi is seeking to return to parliament almost a decade after being forced out over a conviction for tax fraud.