Berlusconi, 76, has fiancee, 27

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ROME, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Silvio Berlusconi, the 76-year-old former Italian prime minister embroiled in a sex scandal, has disclosed he's engaged to his 27-year-old girlfriend.

In a weekend interview on his Canale 5 TV network, the billionaire businessman said he's officially engaged to Francesca Pascale, The Daily Telegraph reported Sunday.

"Finally I feel less lonely," Berlusconi said. "She is 27 years old, with very solid values, beautiful on the outside and even more beautiful on the inside.

"She is very close to me, she loves me very much and I feel the same. My daughter Marina appreciates her and loves her very much too."

Berlusconi has not finalized his divorce from his second wife, Veronica Lario, the newspaper said. Berlusconi has five children from the two marriages.

While he was convicted on tax evasion charges in October and is still facing charges he paid to have sex with an underage prostitute, Berlusconi has also said he intends to run for a fourth term as prime minister.

Pascale had worked in Berlusconi's PDL party, but resigned in July, the Telegraph said.