Italy: Berlusconi's way

If a contest was to be held to choose Europe's most sexist politician, Silvio Berlusconi would undoubtedly win. It was Berlusconi who said that the Spanish cabinet, with its equal number of male and female ministers, was "too pink". It was Berlusconi who said there were not enough soldiers in the army to prevent rapes, because Italian women were too beautiful, and who suggested that foreign firms should establish themselves in Italy because Italian secretaries were the most attractive in the world. And, if it is objected that these were only words - harmless fun, in the president's own estimation - his behaviour toward the women in his own life has also been much criticised, not least by his wife. So it is fitting that a growing scandal concerning a series of beautiful women should be a cause of embarrassment, and perhaps of more than embarrassment, for a leader who had hoped at this moment to be concentrating on his statesman's duties as host of the G8 summit next month. When his wife announced her intention to divorce him because, among other reasons, of his relationship with the 18-year-old model Noemi Letizia, Berlusconi went into his standard escape and evade pattern - alternating dismissive jokes with attacks on the press while refusing to answer any questions - it seemed for a while as if he would get away with it. Now a new set of allegations has surfaced, concerning the attendance of other young women at lavish parties held at Berlusconi's villa. This seems more like dotage than dalliance.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/23/berlusconi-italian-politics