Silvio Berlusconi: In It Up to His Bunga Bunga Eyeballs
Playboy Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi‘s already rock bottom reputation and credibility sank to new lows today. It has been revealed that the contents of more than 100,000 (yes, you read that correctly – one hundred thousand plus) intercepted bunga bunga case telephone conversations are about to see the light of day. Not only this, […]
Berlusconi: How Has He Lasted So Long? – Part Three
This is the final instalment of a three part series which examines the uncanny longevity of Silvio Berlusconi. In this concluding episode, I’ll take a look at girls, how Berlusconi has managed Italy, criticism from abroad, corruption, plus a few other relevant issues, including Italy’s odd opposition parties, and will include Italy’s prime minister’s legal […]
Berlusconi: How Has He Lasted So Long? – Part Two
In part one of this three part series I began this look at what is keeping Silvio Berlusconi in place in Italy. The previous instalment looked at cronyism, the culture of distrust which pervades Italian society and the Vatican’s tolerance towards Italy’s colourful leader. Today, I’m going to examine a number of other reasons why […]
Berlusconi: How Has He Lasted So Long? – Part One
The title of this post is probably a question people around the world have been asking for some time. More people may be asking similar questions in light of the recently reported words of Italy’s long serving prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who declared he detested Italy and that he intended leaving the country in a […]
A Brothel Fit for a Prime Minister?
Aside from Italy’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who is facing charges of having paid for sex with underage prostitute Ruby, which he denies, three close associates of Berlusconi are now facing charges of aiding and abetting prostitution. Prosecuting magistrates have not minced their words, stating that it is their belief that the three people concerned […]
Italy’s 2011 Referendum Results – A Massive Defeat For Berlusconi
Despite various attempts by the Berlusconi government to stifle referendums on key issues like the privatisation of water, re-introducing nuclear power to Italy and the legitimacy of offering protection from prosecution to Silvio Berlusconi himself, the voting went ahead. Right up to the last minute Berlusconi and his gang tried to have the part of […]
Short Post Two – Bombing Libya
Almost as confusing as the messages Italy’s government are sending out on the nuclear power issue are those regarding Berlusconi’s Arab friend, Colonel ‘bomb my own people to death’ Gaddafi. Initial official reaction to troubles in Libya: Italy does not want to be involved in helping the Libyan people. Subsequent official reaction: Italy will let […]
Book Review: Forza, Italia by Bill Emmott
I’ve just finished reading Bill Emmott‘s Forza, Italia book, the subtitle of which is, translated from Italian: ‘How jump start post-Berlusconi Italy’. Forza, Italia made for interesting reading, and was not entirely what I expected, in that it did not home in on Berlusconi’s deficiencies, even if they were mentioned from time to time. Overall […]
A List of 10 Ways to Save Berlusconi’s Bacon
To keep Silvio Berlusconi out of court his minions are coming up with a whole host of fun ideas. Today there was the Berlusconi disciple who proposed introducing a reform to Italy’s justice system which would only apply to the over 65s who had no criminal record. Reportedly, Italy’s justice minister suggested lowering the legal […]