Berlusconi and the Girl: No Spice, Thank You

“Is there anyone who has any questions about underage females?” Not the typical way for the leader of a G8 nation to begin a formal news conference. But this is Italy in the age of Silvio Berlusconi, the land of a flamboyant billionaire Prime Minister whose ambiguous relationship with an 18-year-old aspiring showgirl have dominated public debate for most of the month of may.

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Berlusconi ‘pained’ amid divorce reports

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi refused to deny reports Sunday that his wife plans to file for divorce after finally running out of patience over his roving eye. Hours after newspapers said Veronica Lario had contacted a divorce lawyer and was seeking a quick separation after nearly 30 years of marriage, Berlusconi, 72, issued a terse statement Sunday that appeared to give credence to the reports. “It is a personal affair that pains me.

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Berlusconi praised despite quake gaffe

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s energetic response to Monday’s earthquake has been generally praised despite his comparison of the ordeal of survivors staying in emergency tents to a camping weekend. Berlusconi has visited the town of L’Aquila, the epicenter of the 6.3-magnitude quake, every day this week, talking to survivors and pledging government help to rebuild houses. He scrapped a visit to Russia that was planned for this week.

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