Berlusconi turns to G8 and Gaddafi for comfort
Italian leader shrugs off claims he hired call girls as he prepares to host summit
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Dogged by domestic problems, Roman emperors would launch international adventures to divert public attention. In the same vein, facing a series of domestic scandals that would have embarrassed the Emperor Tiberius, Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, today takes to the world stage by announcing the programme for this year's G8 summit.
Mr Berlusconi will say that the economic crisis and the need for greater financial regulation, food supplies for developing countries and climate change are the key issued facing the informal but exclusive gathering of the world's seven richest nations, plus Russia, to be held in earthquake-torn L'Aquila from 8 to 10 July.
A spokesman for Mr Berlusconi said the summit had been moved from the Sardinian resort of La Maddalena to the devastated town in Abruzzo, central Italy, partly to bring a degree of "sobriety" to proceedings in a time of international crisis.
Events in Iran, the Middle East conflict, and international security issues will be high on the agenda. Voices at home and abroad are asking, however, if Mr Berlusconi's own domestic political crises will detract from his ability to tackle such weighty global issues.
Yesterday, it emerged that Giam-paolo Tarantini, the Bari businessman accused of procuring call girls for the 72-year-old media mogul's notorious parties in Rome and Sardinia, is under investigation for supplying cocaine.
Meanwhile, the head of the Bank of Italy warned that the domestic economy was growing "ever more fragile". And following attacks on the prime minister by senior church figures, it was reported yesterday that Mr Berlusconi's approval rating had slipped below 50 per cent for the first time since he won another term as premier. Nevertheless, a spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that, "with two G8s already under his belt", he would bring experience and problem-solving ability to the summit.
The G5 nations – China, Brazil, Mexico, India and South Africa, plus Egypt, which Italy regards as "an important, Arab, Muslim and Middle-Eastern country" will also be represented. The Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who this month made a high-profile state visit to Rome, will appear at L'Acquila on day three to head a delegation of the African Union.
Thirty leaders will appear over three days. But there are daunting obstacles to Berlusconi's diplomatic ambitions.
On day two of the summit, Mr Berlusconi is due to co-chair the Major Economies Forum session on climate change with the US President. But the Italian premier does not have the close relationship with Barack Obama that he enjoyed with George Bush. His infamous description of the US President as "suntanned" after Mr Obama's election victory did not get the relationship off to a flying start.
This weekend, an Israeli paper quoted Mr Berlusconi as telling the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a visit to Rome, that Mr Obama was "weak" on Iran. Italy also angered EU and US by this year stepping up its participation in the South Stream Russian gas pipeline, which competes with the Europe-backed Nabucco project designed to reduce Europe's reliance on Russian supplies.
Mr Berlusconi thinks these factors offer opportunities: he is keen to promote himself as a key mediator between Russia and the US, even Israel and the US. And while Mr Netanyahu's government is at loggerheads with the Obama administration, Rome was Mr Netanyahu's first European port of call after his re-election.
Whether all this will change the way ordinary Italians see him is unknown. But his spokesman, Marco Ventura, said: "He is fit and looking forward to announcing the G8 programme. The day after, he's off to Libya to meet Colonel Gaddafi."
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Comments
Tapping his phone popped out that the guy likes a lot "Girls" and the parties...
What are you reporting? that once he took with him one of them to a Berlusconi, in his private home, dinner.....
If was not for Repubblica use of the shit in fan journalism, nobody would care...
do not trust repubblica dear Mr Day, this is their last bayonet charge, if they fail their bosses, Banks, Energy, Finance investors, Mr. De Benedetti... are out.....
Tarantini will fall and he has to. He will be the one who will have to take all the blame so to save the emperor. You said that If it was not for Repubblica use of the shit in fan journalism, nobody would care... I would say nobody would know as everyone who inform themselves throughout the state television can testify.
I do not care if Berlusconi sleeps with young girls (well if they are under 18 then the law should look into it) or uses prostitutes to pleasure himself (I have nothing against it as long as both parties agree) but I do care if my PRIME MINISTER does it. (ahah How can I not laugh thinking about how ironic looks now the family day?)
I do not care if Berlusconi lies time after time after time but I do care if my PRIME MINISTER does it.
I could go on like this for another good 5 minutes.
If only 5% of what has happened to Berlusconi in the last 10 years had happened to Blair or Brown they would have been kicked out of the office in no time... but hey I forgot.... even with all its faults (who or which nation does not have them?) I live in a civilized country now.
Peace.
Ah, Britain is a perfect country, well I repeat stay there, and do not insult and bother true Italians. You are not. I'm still wondering how to consider civilized a country that does not know the bidet.
My voice is the most courageous one, I'm one of the majority of Italians, who are deep in anger with people like you that are insulting their country.
just because your think, being able to write down some english, to defame italy abroad.
I'm Italian,, I'm proud to be, and you are just rubbish
However, there are people that think and feel and fight. Italy is a land of contrasts, you can find in hinterland of Naples, for example, both the best and the worst persons you will ever meet anywhere. Many people are driven by fear, fear of poverty, fear of the church, fear of a corrupt legal system... But there are a few, very few but growing, courageous voices. Unfortunately monicamum's is not one of them.
It strikes me how after living abroad you could possibly go back to Italy. I've seen some people doing it but they were the same Italians who lived and spend all their time with other Italians. kinda of little Italy thing.
now for Monica... "I'm still wondering how to consider civilized a country that does not know the bidet."
If this is the standard you use to evaluate a country civilization well no wonder Berlusconi is your prime minister.
"My voice is the most courageous one, I'm one of the majority of Italians, who are deep in anger with people like you that are insulting their country."
I'm not insulting anyone, I'm just stating a fact. And the word country in itself means nothing unless you use it to show the way people live and the civic sense (something completely alien to the Italian culture) they adopt...have you ever seen an Italian queuing?.
We can all go along and sing the songs, cry for the flags and whatever you may like but that means nothing if then you steal form each other as much as you can.
Of course there is corruption in England too but that is nothing compared to what is going on in Italy.
Ahah I'm still try to picture out Brown appointing the BBC CEO to make sure only favorable news come out from it... like hold on a second.. like the new TG1 chief.
Or what about Brown going to state television a talking for 1 hour with no interruption whatsoever or questions asked.. like deja vou... Berlusconi on Porta a Porta.
"I'm Italian,, I'm proud to be, and you are just rubbish"
As you can tell a multicultural Italy is nowhere to be seen anytime soon.
good bye.
We can also negatively judge Anglo-Saxons for other flaws, drinking, the low and low low classes status, the general untidiness of bigger towns, the poor quality of food, not cooking, the food, lowest classes can not reach healthy food, did you know it?
but what is unforgivable is their responsibilities in the present crisis.
could be tha italian bank system is backward, slow and tending to cheat the customer, but at least do not cheat the stockholders.
So I gave you a vast list of arguments to deal with, not only a plumber one.
When a person is stating a fact at least the fact has to be true, or ostensible, not an opinion caught from Repubblica and duly reported by journalists who never speak a word in italian except tagliatele and fetucini with meat balls
Mr Vendola, the governor of Puglia is a comunist or not? were not he a leader of Communst Refoundation party? could be my blindness does not let me to read correctly.
But more generally, when you read the comments of Italians who disagree with the present government, try to distinguish that from their being anti-patriotic and criticising their country. It's a fairly simple and clear distinction, and one which is readily understood by the readers of this newspaper. And try not to make your political allegiances sound like a religious crusade, because it makes your arguments sound inevitably unconvincing. I suspect that most readers of this column will probably not be favourably disposed towards Mr Berlusconi, and that does make it strategically advisable for you to adopt a different tone of arguing. (That very rum cove, Jasper of Bolzano, who responds to all articles on Italy in the Times, needs to be told this too.)
I do not say that Mr. Brlusconi is not partying in his houses, neither that he does not like the company of young pretty ladies, and in the last time not so young (42).
Is the approach of journalist, "crooner", media tycoon, womanizer, which reflects the Repubblica trash.
I do not know about such Jasper, and mine is not a crusade, is the love for the truth. for facts, not for speculations.
A little example, for instance Times wrote that Mr. Berlusconi could be summoned by Bari's judges.
Is not true, he cannot be summoned, if they want to ask him they have to move to Rome, and he can say "Nothing to say" and they cannot force him to answer. Got the issue? Anyway they excluded to carry on such interview.
Is like when I'm writing that Puglia is ruled by at least one communist. Did I lie?
Is more serious Mr Tarantini million euro bribery offered to local government or paying two thousands euros to a "lady" to make a "bella figura"? I'old enough to know men. 90% of them, also over there, will envy Mr. Tarantini, even if hypocrisy will not permit them to admit this.
Is silly or not to write "please save us" when situation Italy is more o less the same as UK? and seems normal to you Mr. Bates this posture of British newspapers? Does not seem you this behaviour just a bit strange?
Yeah, mostly is the classic UK racist and stereotypical painting of Italian as addicted with Milan catwalks or Trastevere dolce vita, but could not you see or at least suspect a plot? a ploy to discredit Italy? Why?
I have to admit, I have a hell of a temper, but I'm always straight, may be blunt, but straight.
and now I'm going to seek this Jasper who you mentioned.
If there are lackeys in the entourage of Berlusconi, do exist also a good pack of sworn enemies in other media.
You are italian, do you think that rainews 24 bias is pro Berlusconi? also Canale 5 duly reported the whole story.....
There is indeed very little public curiosity in many quarters in Italy. He goes on TV and gives an account of his acquaintance with Miss Letizia, which has now been shown to be a complete fabrication from start to finish. He met with no serious questioning from his obsequious - and trusted - interviewer - who would certainly not find employment on a news programme elsewhere.
You seem surprised, and slightly insulted, that the rest of the world is a little curious about this man. There are many things about him that arouse our curiosity. We are curious about the origins of his fortune. We are curious about the unorthodox way he bought his main residence. We are curious about him being host to a Mafia boss for several years and curious that he should publicly defend and praise the man. We are curious about his connections with the P2 and his involvement in various cases of corruption. Still more, we are curious about the strange form of mass hypnosis that has ensured that a man of such dubious background, and whose political record can be politely described as mediocre, should arouse such fantatical and irrational loyalty among one third of the electorate. So curious are we, indeed, that you can be assured that the western press will go on giving intense scrutiny to this individual.
I can say something about P2, is freemasonry a crime? do you know that except for soldiers, who resigned, no penal offense has been issued upon its members? Was the "democratic reinassnce's plan" subversive? No was just pure common sense.
Corriere della sera reported a week ago, a poll about the appreciation of berlusconi, well, it fall from 51 to 49 percent. his coalition sails anyway on a quite comfortable 60%.
This information is leading me to reply to your last question... Why, not a third, but one half, of italians are loyal to berlusconi? A person like you could not miss the exchange of dirty jokes about the new jeanne d'arc of italian democratic party and the establishment of the same party which repubblica started yesterday... who could be happy when a party that in the last elecitions reduced to a fifth his local governments representatives starts to use stilettos not as berlusconi girls do, but as a real coup de palace weapon?
Italians are scared, scared by the situation depicted by media, scared by multi cultural world who church and left wont to impose them, scared by be consigned to a left so far absolutely not fit to rule.
As we did before, when we imported lords to rule our cities now we rely on the sole person who can rule us.
Do not ask me more historical lectures, I will issue an invoice....
I don't think most freemasons would be happy with your implication that the P2 lodge was all a normal part of the movement. Berlusconi lied about his membership of that too, by the way - under oath.
Yes, I think many Italians are scared - of their own shadows it seems very often. It's not a good condition to be in when trying to take rational decisions for the future. On one thing, though, I do agree with you. As your closing comments suggest, Italy is more like a feudal society than a modern democracy. It's just that you seem happy about that.