The conversation took place between the head of insurer Unipol and Piero Fassino, who was the leader of the biggest centre-left party and Mr Berlusconi's biggest political rival at the time.
Piero Fassino has switched from foreign trade to the much trickier job of justice, while a former trade unionist, Ottaviano Del Turco, has moved from the parliamentary committee that deals with the Mafia to be finance minister.