By Robin Pomeroy
ROME (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi has won his thirdItalian election with a bigger than expected swing to thecentre right, but the media magnate said it would not be easyto solve deep economic problems.
With Berlusconi's victory clear on Monday, centre-leftleader Walter Veltroni called the 71-year-old to concededefeat. Vote-counting was close to completion on Tuesday.
After two years in opposition, Berlusconi is expected toreturn to Rome from his home in northern Italy later onTuesday, although for procedural reasons he is unlikely to beappointed prime minister before early May.
"Berlusconi's triumph" was the headline in Italy's leadingCorriere della Sera. La Stampa said: "Berlusconi's Third Time."
A strong mandate should enable Berlusconi to push reformsthrough parliament, but many Italians are disillusioned withpolitics and doubt any government can quickly cure the ills ofthe European Union's fourth-largest economy.
"The months and years ahead will be difficult and I ampreparing a government ready to last five years," Berlusconitold state television in a live phone call on Monday night.
He said his priorities were settling the future ofstate-controlled Alitalia, which the outgoing administrationwas struggling to
