Savoy prince to compete in Italian election

MILAN (Reuters) - The nephew of Italy's last king announced on Thursday that he will run for parliament in April's election, promising to drop a lawsuit seeking damages from the Italian state for sending his family into exile for 54 years.

"I don't want to ask Italy for anything. Today I'm getting involved so that I can give, not ask," said 36-year-old Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, presenting his "Values and Tradition" party.

Six months ago, the Savoys' lawyers threatened to sue for the years spent in exile and property confiscated in 1948 by the new republic. Filiberto and his father Vittorio Emanuele were reported to be seeking 260 million euros in damages.

Male members of the family were banned from stepping on Italian soil until 2002. The prince, having spent most of his life abroad, wants to represent Italians living outside the country, who elect special representatives in parliament.

"I know what it means to live abroad and what issues are important for Italians living abroad," said the heir to Italy's defunct throne. "I'm probably the most famous Italian emigrant."

Filiberto will support media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom party if he wins a seat, he told a news conference in Milan, where supporters got to their feet to urge him to seek the restoration of the monarchy.

"Long live a monarchic Italy and our new king!" shouted Roberto Bertoli. But the prince said he was "born when Italy was already a republic" and preferred to look to the future.

(Editing by Janet Lawrence)