Meet Paolo Micheli, a candidate for mayor in the Italian town of Segrate, outside of Milan, with the left-leaning Democratic Party
He even has a campaign van with his face on it.
And this is, of course, Silvio Berlusconi, the scandal-prone former Italian prime minister and convicted tax cheat, who is aligned with the right-wing Forza Italia party.
On Friday, according to Micheli, Berlusconi and his bodyguards accidentally turned up at the Democratic candidate's rally instead of that of Micheli's Forza Italia rival, before mixing with the baffled crowds.
Noticing the crowd's confusion, Berlusconi asked what the name of the candidate was, according to Facebook user Luigi Lanfranconi. When they named Paolo Michelo, Berlusconi is said to have replied, "I recommend you all vote for Paolo!"
One of Berlusconi's bodyguards was overheard saying, "Didn't they say they had a female candidate?" Indeed, the Forza Italia candidate, Tecla Fraschini, is a woman.
On Facebook, Micheli seemed to have some fun with Berlusconi's accidental visit, writing, "With the support of the Cavaliere ["the Knight", a nickname used for Berlusconi] I can say I’ve won. 😉”
Soon enough, Micheli's supporters were seeing "Berlusconi" helping out the rival campaign in a number of ways.
So helpful!
What's Italian for "whoops"?
h/t the Guardian