Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi (/ˌbɛərlʊˈskoʊni/ BAIR-luu-SKOH-nee; It alian: [ˈsilvjo berluˈskoːni] ( listen); born
29 Sept ember 1936) is an It alian media t ycoon and polit ician who served as Prime Minist er of
It aly in four government s[2] from 1994 t o 1995, 2001 t o 2006 and 2008 t o 2011. He was a
member of t he Chamber of Deput ies from 1994 t o 2013 and has served as a Member of t he
European Parliament (MEP) since 2019,[3] and previously from 1999 t o 2001.
Silvio Berlusconi
MEP
Berlusconi in 2010
Prime Minister of Italy
In office
8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011
President
Giorgio Napolitano
Preceded by
Romano Prodi
Succeeded by
Mario Monti
In office
11 June 2001 – 17 May 2006
President
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Deputy
Gianfranco Fini
Marco Follini
Giulio Tremonti
Preceded by
Giuliano Amato
Succeeded by
Romano Prodi
In office
11 May 1994 – 17 January 1995
President
Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Deputy
Roberto Maroni
Giuseppe Tatarella
Preceded by
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Succeeded by
Lamberto Dini
Member of the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 July 2019
Constituency
North-West Italy
In office
20 July 1999 – 10 June 2001
Constituency
North-West Italy
Member of the Senate of the Republic
In office
15 March 2013 – 27 November 2013
Constituency
Molise
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
15 April 1994 – 14 March 2013
Constituency
Molise (2008–2013)
Campania 1 (2006–2008)
Lombardy 1 (1996–2006)
Lazio 1 (1994–1996)
Personal details
Born
29 September 1936
Milan, Kingdom of Italy
Political party
Forza Italia
(1994–2009)
The People of Freedom
(2009–2013)
Other political
Forza Italia
Pole
of Freedoms
(2013–present)
affiliations
(1994–1995)
Pole for Freedoms
(1996–2000)
House of Freedoms
(2000–2008)
Centre-right coalition
(2008–2013; 2017–present)
Spouse(s)
Carla Dall'Oglio
​
​(m. 1965; div. 1985)​
Veronica Lario
​
​(m. 1990; div. 2010)​
Domestic partner
Francesca Pascale
(2013–2020)
Marta Fascina
(2020–present)
Children
Marina
Pier Silvio
Barbara
Eleonora
Luigi
Residence(s)
Arcore, Italy
Alma mater
University of Milan
Occupation
Founder & owner of Fininvest
Owner of A.C. Monza
Net worth
US$8.0 billion (as of 30 April 2021)[1]
Signature
Website
www.forzasilvio.it (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20120508103401/https://www.forzasilvio.i
t/)
Berlusconi is t he cont rolling shareholder of Mediaset and owned t he It alian foot ball club AC
Milan from 1986 t o 2017. He is nicknamed Il Cavaliere (The Knight ) for his Order of Merit for
Labour, alt hough he volunt arily resigned from t his order in March 2014.[4] In 2018, Forbes
magazine ranked him as t he 190t h richest man in t he world wit h a net wort h of
US$8 billion.[5][6] In 2009, Forbes ranked him 12t h in t he List of The World's Most Powerful
People due t o his dominat ion of It alian polit ics, t hroughout more t han t went y years at t he
head of t he cent re-right coalit ion.[7]
Berlusconi was Prime Minist er for nine years in t ot al, making him t he longest serving post -war
Prime Minist er of It aly, and t he t hird longest -serving since It alian unificat ion, aft er Benit o
Mussolini and Giovanni Giolit t i. He was t he leader of t he cent re-right part y Forza It alia from
1994 t o 2009, and it s successor part y The People of Freedom from 2009 t o 2013. Since
November 2013, he has led a revived Forza It alia.[8] Berlusconi was t he senior G8 leader from
2009 unt il 2011 and he current ly holds t he record for host ing G8 Summit s (having host ed
t hree Summit s in It aly). Aft er serving nearly 19 years as a member of t he Chamber of
Deput ies, It aly's lower house, aft er t he 2013 general elect ion he became a member of t he
Senat e.
On 1 August 2013, he was convict ed of t ax fraud by t he court of final inst ance, t he Court of
Cassat ion, confirming his four-year prison sent ence (of which t hree years are aut omat ically
pardoned) along wit h a public office ban for t wo years. As his age exceeded 70 years, he was
exempt ed from direct imprisonment , and inst ead served his sent ence by doing unpaid social
communit y work.[9] Because he had been sent enced t o a gross imprisonment for more t han
t wo years, a new It alian ant i-corrupt ion law led t o t he Senat e expelling and barring him from
serving in any legislat ive office for six years.[10][11] Berlusconi pledged t o st ay leader of Forza
It alia t hroughout his cust odial sent ence and public office ban.[9][12] Aft er his ban ended,
Berlusconi ran for and was successfully elect ed as an MEP at t he 2019 European Parliament
elect ion.[3]
Berlusconi was t he first person t o assume t he premiership wit hout having held any prior
government or administ rat ive offices. He is known for his populist polit ical st yle and brash
personalit y. In his long t enure, he was oft en accused of being an aut horit arian leader and a
st rongman.[13][14][15] Berlusconi st ill remains a cont roversial figure who divides public opinion
and polit ical analyst s. Support ers emphasize his leadership skills and charismat ic power, his
fiscal policy based on t ax reduct ion, and his abilit y t o maint ain st rong and close foreign
relat ions wit h bot h t he Unit ed St at es and Russia.[16][17][18] In general, crit ics address his
performance as a polit ician, and t he et hics of his government pract ices in relat ion t o his
business holdings. Issues wit h t he former include accusat ions of having mismanaged t he
st at e budget and of increasing t he It alian government debt . The second crit icism concerns
his vigorous pursuit of his personal int erest s while in office, including benefit t ing from his own
companies' growt h due t o policies promot ed by his government s, having vast conflict s of
int erest due t o ownership of a media empire wit h which he has rest rict ed freedom of
informat ion and finally, being blackmailed as leader because of his t urbulent privat e
life.[19][20][21][22]
Family background and personal life
Berlusconi was born in Milan in 1936, where he was raised in a middle-class family.[23] His
fat her, Luigi Berlusconi (1908–1989), was a bank employee, and his mot her, Rosa Bossi (1911–
2008), a housewife.[24] Silvio was t he first of t hree children; he had a sist er, Maria Francesca
Ant oniet t a Berlusconi (1943–2009), and has a brot her, Paolo Berlusconi (born 1949).
Berlusconi singing on a cruise ship in the 1960s [25]
Aft er complet ing his secondary school educat ion at a Salesian college, he st udied law at t he
Universit à St at ale in Milan, graduat ing (wit h honours) in 1961, wit h a t hesis on t he legal
aspect s of advert ising. Berlusconi was not required t o serve t he st andard one-year st int in
t he It alian army which was compulsory at t he t ime.[26] During his universit y st udies, he was an
upright bass player in a group formed wit h t he now Mediaset Chairman and amat eur pianist
Fedele Confalonieri and occasionally performed as a cruise ship crooner.[25] In lat er life, he
wrot e AC Milan's ant hem wit h t he It alian music producer and pop singer Tony Renis and Forza
It alia's ant hem wit h t he opera direct or Renat o Serio. Wit h t he Neapolit an singer Mariano
Apicella, he wrot e t wo Neapolit an song albums: Meglio 'na canzone in 2003 and L'ultimo amore
in 2006.
In 1965, he married Carla Elvira Dall'Oglio, and t hey had t wo children: Maria Elvira, bet t er known
as Marina (born 1966), and Pier Silvio (born 1969).[27] By 1980, Berlusconi had est ablished a
relat ionship wit h t he act ress Veronica Lario (born Miriam Bart olini), wit h whom he
subsequent ly had t hree children: Barbara (born 1984), Eleonora (born 1986) and Luigi (born
1988). He was divorced from Dall'Oglio in 1985, and married Lario in 1990. By t his t ime,
Berlusconi was a well-known ent repreneur, and his wedding was a not able social event . One of
his best men was Bet t ino Craxi, a former prime minist er and leader of t he It alian Socialist
Part y. In May 2009, Lario announced t hat she was t o file for divorce.[28]
On 28 December 2012, Berlusconi was ordered t o pay his ex-wife Veronica Lario $48 million a
year in a divorce set t lement t hat was filed Christ mas Day, but could keep t he $100 million
house t hey live in wit h t heir t hree children.[29]
Berlusconi has t en grandchildren.[30]
In April 2017, Berlusconi appeared in a video promot ing a veget arian East er campaign.
Berlusconi was shown cuddling lambs he had adopt ed t o save from slaught ering for t he
t radit ional East er Sunday feast . He has neit her confirmed nor denied whet her he himself is a
veget arian, however.[31]
Business career
Milano Due
Berlusconi's business career began in const ruct ion. In t he lat e 1960s, he built Milano Due
(It alian for "Milan Two"), a development of 4,000 resident ial apart ment s east of Milan. It was
a resident ial cent re in t he It alian t own of Segrat e and was built as a new t own by Edilnord, a
Berlusconi owned company associat ed wit h t he Fininvest group.
The main peculiarit y of Milano Due is a syst em of walkways and bridges t hat connect s t he
whole neighbourhood, so t hat it is possible t o walk around wit hout ever int ersect ing t raffic.
The works st art ed in 1970, and were complet ed in 1979. Dist inct ive landmarks are t he
sport ing facilit ies, a small art ificial lake and a children's playground.
The profit s from t his vent ure provided t he seed money for his advert ising agency.[32]
TeleMilano
Berlusconi first ent ered t he media world in 1973, by set t ing up a small cable t elevision
company, TeleMilano, t o service unit s built on his Segrat e propert ies. It began t ransmit t ing in
Sept ember t he following year. TeleMilano was t he first It alian privat e t elevision channel, and
lat er evolved int o Canale 5, t he first nat ional privat e TV st at ion.
Aft er buying t wo furt her channels, Berlusconi relocat ed t he st at ion t o cent ral Milan in 1977
and began broadcast ing over t he airwaves.[33]
Fininvest
Berlusconi in his private jet, in the 1980s
In 1978, Berlusconi founded his first media group, Fininvest , and joined t he Propaganda Due
masonic lodge. In t he five years leading up t o 1983 he earned some 113 billion It alian lire
(€58.3 million). The funding sources are st ill unknown because of a complex syst em of holding
companies, despit e invest igat ions conduct ed by various st at e at t orneys.
Fininvest soon expanded int o a count ry-wide net work of local TV st at ions which had similar
programming, forming, in effect , a single nat ional net work. This was seen as breaching t he
It alian public broadcast er RAI's st at ut ory monopoly by creat ing a nat ional net work, which was
lat er abolished. In 1980, Berlusconi founded It aly's first privat e nat ional net work, Canale 5,
followed short ly t hereaft er by It alia 1, which was bought from t he Rusconi family in 1982, and
Ret e 4, which was bought from Mondadori in 1984.[34] He t hen launched t hree int ernat ional
sist er net works: La Cinq (which began operat ions in 1986), Tele 5 (which launched in 1988),
and Telecinco (which launched in 1989). La Cinq and Tele 5 ceased operat ions in 1992 and
were lat er replaced by La Cinquième and DSF, respect ively.
Berlusconi creat ed t he first and only It alian commercial TV empire. He was assist ed by his
connect ions t o Bet t ino Craxi, secret ary-general of t he It alian Socialist Part y and also prime
minist er of It aly at t hat t ime, whose government passed, on 20 Oct ober 1984, an emergency
decree legalising t he nat ionwide t ransmissions made by Berlusconi's t elevision st at ions.[34]
This was in response t o judgement s on 16 Oct ober 1984, in Turin, Pescara and Rome,
enforcing a law which previously rest rict ed nat ionwide broadcast ing t o RAI, t hat had ordered
t hese privat e net works t o cease t ransmit t ing.
Aft er polit ical t urmoil in 1985, t he decree was approved definit ively. But for some years,
Berlusconi's t hree channels remained in a legal limbo, and were not allowed t o broadcast news
and polit ical comment ary. They were elevat ed t o t he st at us of full nat ional TV channels in
1990, by t he so-called Mammì law. In 1987, it bought out home video dist ribut or Domovideo,
in a seesaw cont est wit h Vincenzo Romangoli.[35]
Berlusconi with Giulio Andreotti in 1984
In 1995, Berlusconi sold a port ion of his media holdings, first t o t he German media group Kirch
Group (now bankrupt ) and t hen by public offer. In 1999, Berlusconi expanded his media
int erest s by forming a part nership wit h Kirch called t he Epsilon MediaGroup.[36]
On 9 July 2011, a Milan court ordered Fininvest t o pay 560 million euros in damages t o
Compagnie Indust riali Riunit e in a long-running legal disput e.[37]
On 5 August 2016, Fininvest announced t he signing of a preliminary agreement t o sell all of
t heir shares of AC Milan t o Sino-Europe Sport s Invest ment Management Changxing Co.Lt d.
The deal was scheduled t o be finalized by t he end of 2016.[38] On 13 April 2017, Berlusconi
sold Milan t o Rossoneri Sport Invest ment Lux for a t ot al of €830 million aft er a 31-year
reign.[39][40]
Political career
Berlusconi rapidly rose t o t he forefront of It alian polit ics in January 1994. He was elect ed t o
t he Chamber of Deput ies for t he first t ime and appoint ed as Prime Minist er following t he
1994 parliament ary elect ions, when Forza It alia gained a relat ive majorit y a mere t hree mont hs
aft er having been launched. However, his cabinet collapsed aft er nine mont hs, due t o int ernal
disagreement s among t he coalit ion part ies. In t he April 1996 snap parliament ary elect ions,
Berlusconi was defeat ed by t he cent re-left candidat e Romano Prodi. In t he May 2001
parliament ary elect ions, he was again t he cent re-right candidat e for Prime Minist er and won
against t he cent re-left candidat e Francesco Rut elli. Berlusconi t hen formed his second and
t hird cabinet s, unt il 2006. Berlusconi was leader of t he cent re-right coalit ion in t he April 2006
parliament ary elect ions, which he lost by a very narrow margin, his opponent again being
Romano Prodi. He was re-elect ed in t he parliament ary elect ions of April 2008 following t he
collapse of Prodi's government and sworn in for a t hird t ime as Prime Minist er on 8 May 2008.
Aft er losing his majorit y in parliament amid growing fiscal problems relat ed t o t he European
debt crisis, Berlusconi resigned as Prime Minist er on 16 November 2011.[41] In February 2013
Berlusconi has led t he People of Freedom and it s right -wing allies in t he campaign for t he
parliament ary elect ions. Alt hough he init ially planned t o run for a fift h t erm as Prime
Minist er,[42][43][44] as part of t he agreement wit h t he Lega Nord he would inst ead plan t o lead
t he coalit ion wit hout becoming Prime Minist er.[45] Berlusconi's Cent re-right coalit ion gained
29% of vot es, ranking second, aft er t he cent re-left coalit ion It aly Common Good led by Pier
Luigi Bersani. Subsequent ly, t he PdL was support ing t he government of Enrico Let t a,
t oget her wit h t he Democrat ic Part y and t he cent rist Civic Choice of former Prime Minist er
Mario Mont i.[46]
He was crit icised for his elect oral coalit ions wit h right wing populist part ies (t he Lega Nord
and t he Nat ional Alliance) and for apologet ic remarks about Mussolini, t hough he also officially
apologised for It aly's act ions in Libya during colonial rule.[47] While in power, Berlusconi
maint ained ownership of Mediaset , t he largest media company in It aly, and was crit icised for
his dominance of t he It alian media.[48][49] His leadership was also undermined by sex
scandals.[50]
Beginnings
Berlusconi during a meeting in May 1994
Berlusconi's polit ical career began in 1994, when he ent ered polit ics, report edly admit t ing t o
Indro Mont anelli and Enzo Biagi t hat he was forced t o do so t o avoid imprisonment .[51] He
subsequent ly served as Prime Minist er of It aly from 1994 t o 1995, 2001 t o 2006, and 2008
t o 2011. His career was racked wit h cont roversies and t rials; amongst t hese was his failure t o
honour his promise t o sell his personal asset s in Mediaset , t he largest t elevision broadcast er
in It aly, t o dispel any perceived conflict s of int erest .
In t he early 1990s, t he Pentapartito – t he five governing part ies, Christ ian Democracy
(Democrazia Cristiana), t he It alian Socialist Part y, t he It alian Social-Democrat ic Part y, t he
It alian Republican Part y and t he It alian Liberal Part y – lost much of t heir elect oral st rengt h
almost overnight due t o a large number of judicial invest igat ions concerning t he financial
corrupt ion of many of t heir foremost members (see t he Mani Pulit e affair). This led t o a
general expect at ion t hat upcoming elect ions would be won by t he Democrat ic Part y of t he
Left , t he heirs t o t he former It alian Communist Part y, and t heir Alliance of Progressives
coalit ion – unless an alt ernat ive arose. On 26 January 1994, Berlusconi announced his decision
t o ent er polit ics, ("ent er t he field", in his own words) present ing his own polit ical part y, Forza
It alia, on a plat form focused on defeat ing the Communists. His polit ical aim was t o convince
t he vot ers of t he Pent apart it o, who were shocked and confused by Mani Pulit e scandals,
t hat Forza It alia offered bot h a fresh uniqueness and t he cont inuat ion of t he pro-west ern
free market policies followed by It aly since t he end of t he Second World War. Short ly aft er
he decided t o ent er t he polit ical arena, invest igat ors int o t he Mani Pulit e affair were said t o
be close t o issuing warrant s for t he arrest of Berlusconi and senior execut ives of his business
group. During his polit ical career Berlusconi repeat edly st at ed t hat t he Mani Pulit e
invest igat ions were led by communist prosecut ors who want ed t o est ablish a soviet -st yle
government in It aly.[52][53]
1994 electoral victory
Berlusconi during a Forza Italia rally
To win t he March 1994 general elect ion, Berlusconi formed t wo separat e elect oral alliances:
Pole of Freedoms (Polo delle Libertà) wit h t he Lega Nord (Northern League) in nort hern It alian
dist rict s, and anot her, t he Pole of Good Government (Polo del Buon Governo), wit h t he
Nat ional Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale; heir t o t he It alian Social Movement ) in cent ral and
sout hern regions.[54] In a pragmat ic move, he did not ally wit h t he lat t er in t he Nort h because
t he League disliked t hem. As a result , Forza It alia was allied wit h t wo part ies t hat were not
allied wit h each ot her.
Berlusconi launched a massive campaign of elect oral advert isement s on his t hree TV
net works, and preparing his t op advert ising salesmen wit h seminars and screen t est s, of
whom 50 were subsequent ly elect ed despit e an absence legislat ive experience.[51] He
subsequent ly won t he elect ions, wit h Forza It alia garnering 21% of t he popular vot e, more
t han any ot her single part y.[55] One of t he most significant promises t hat he made t o secure
vict ory was t hat his government would creat e "one million more jobs". He was appoint ed
Prime Minist er in 1994, but his t erm in office was short because of t he inherent cont radict ions
in his coalit ion: t he League, a regional part y wit h a st rong elect oral base in nort hern It aly, was
at t hat t ime fluct uat ing bet ween federalist and separat ist posit ions, and t he Nat ional Alliance
was a nat ionalist part y t hat had yet t o renounce neo-fascism at t he t ime.
Fall of the Berlusconi I cabinet
In December 1994, following t he leaking t o t he press of news of a fresh invest igat ion by
Milan magist rat es, Umbert o Bossi, leader of t he Lega Nord, left t he coalit ion claiming t hat
t he elect oral pact had not been respect ed, forcing Berlusconi t o resign from office and
shift ing t he majorit y's weight t o t he cent re-left . Lega Nord also resent ed t he fact t hat many
of it s MPs had swit ched t o Forza It alia, allegedly lured by promises of more prest igious
port folios. In 1998, various art icles at t acking Berlusconi were published by Lega Nord's official
newspaper La Padania, wit h t it les such as "La Fininvest è nat a da Cosa Nost ra" – "Fininvest
(Berlusconi's principal company) was founded by t he Mafia".
Berlusconi remained as caret aker prime minist er for a lit t le over a mont h, unt il his replacement
by a t echnocrat ic government headed by Lambert o Dini. Dini had been a key minist er in t he
Berlusconi cabinet , and Berlusconi said t he only way he would support a t echnocrat ic
government would be if Dini headed it . In t he end, however, Dini was support ed by most of t he
opposit ion part ies, but not by Forza It alia and Lega Nord.[56] In 1996, Berlusconi and his
coalit ion lost t he elect ions and were replaced by a cent re-left government led by Romano
Prodi.[57]
2001 electoral victory
In 2001, Berlusconi ran again, as leader of t he right -wing coalit ion House of Freedoms (It alian:
La Casa delle Libertà), which included t he Union of Christ ian and Cent re Democrat s, t he Lega
Nord, t he Nat ional Alliance and ot her part ies. Berlusconi's success in t he May 2001 general
elect ion led t o him becoming Prime Minist er once more, wit h t he coalit ion receiving 49.6% of
t he vot e for t he Chamber of Deput ies and 42.5% for t he Senat e.
On t he t elevision int erviews programme Porta a Porta, during t he last days of t he elect oral
campaign, Berlusconi creat ed a powerful impression on t he public by undert aking t o sign a socalled Contratto con gli Italiani (Cont ract wit h t he It alians), an idea copied out right by his
advisor Luigi Crespi from Newt Gingrich's Cont ract wit h America int roduced six weeks before
t he 1994 US Congressional elect ion.[58] This was considered t o be a creat ive mast erst roke in
his 2001 bid for prime minist ership. Berlusconi commit t ed in t his cont ract t o improve several
aspect s of t he It alian economy and life. First ly, he undert ook t o simplify t he complex t ax
syst em by int roducing just t wo income t ax rat es (33% for t hose earning over 100,000 euros,
and 23% for anyone earning less t han t hat figure: anyone earning less t han 11,000 euros a year
would not be t axed). Secondly, he promised t o halve t he unemployment rat e. Thirdly, he
commit t ed t o financing and developing a massive new public works programme. Fourt hly, he
promised t o raise t he minimum mont hly pension rat e t o 516 euros. Fift hly, he would reduce
crime by int roducing police officers t o pat rol all local zones and areas in It aly's major cit ies.[59]
Berlusconi promised t o not st and for re-elect ion in 2006 if he failed t o honour at least four of
t hese five promises.
Berlusconi II cabinet
Berlusconi addressing a joint session of the U.S. Congress in 2006
Opposit ion part ies claim Berlusconi was not able t o achieve t he goals he promised in his
Contratto con gli Italiani. Some of his part ners in government , especially t he Nat ional Alliance
and t he Union of Christ ian and Cent re Democrat s, admit t ed t he Government fell short of t he
promises made in t he agreement , at t ribut ing t he failure t o an unforeseeable downt urn in
global economic condit ions. Berlusconi himself consist ent ly assert ed t hat he achieved all t he
goals of t he agreement , and said his Government provided un miracolo continuo (a cont inuous
miracle) t hat made all 'earlier government s pale' (by comparison). He at t ribut ed t he
widespread failure t o recognise t hese achievement s t o a campaign of myst ificat ion and
vilificat ion in t he print media, assert ing t hat 85% of newspapers were opposed t o him.[60] Luca
Ricolfi, an independent analyst , held t hat Berlusconi had managed t o deliver only one promise
out of five, t he one concerning minimum pension rat es. According t o Ricolfi, t he ot her four
promises were not honoured, in part icular t he undert akings on t ax simplificat ion and crime
reduct ion.[61]
Subsequent elections
The House of Freedoms did not do as well in t he 2003 local elect ions as it did in t he 2001
nat ional elect ions. In common wit h many ot her European governing groups, in t he 2004
elect ions t o t he European Parliament , gaining 43.37% support . Forza It alia's support was also
reduced from 29.5% t o 21.0% (in t he 1999 European elect ions Forza It alia had 25.2%). As an
out come of t hese result s t he ot her coalit ion part ies, whose elect oral result s were more
sat isfact ory, asked Berlusconi and Forza It alia for great er influence in t he government 's
polit ical line.
Berlusconi III cabinet
In t he 2005 regional elect ions (3 April/4 April 2005), cent re-left candidat es t he for regional
presidencies won in 12 out of 14 regions where cont rol of local government s and
presidencies were at st ake. Berlusconi's coalit ion held only t wo of t he regions (Lombardy and
Venet o) up for re-elect ion. Three part ies, Union of Christ ian and Cent re Democrat s, Nat ional
Alliance and New It alian Socialist Part y, t hreat ened t o wit hdraw from t he Berlusconi
government . Berlusconi aft er some hesit at ion, t hen present ed t o t he President of t he
Republic a request for t he dissolut ion of his government on 20 April 2005. On 23 April, he
formed a new government wit h t he same allies, reshuffling minist ers and amending t he
government programme. A key point demanded by t he Union of Christ ian and Cent re
Democrat s (and t o a lesser ext ent by Nat ional Alliance) for t heir cont inued support was t hat
t he st rong focus on t ax reduct ion be reduced.
Attempt to reform the Italian constitution
A key point in t he Berlusconi government 's programme was a planned reform of t he It alian
Const it ut ion, which Berlusconi considered t o be 'inspired by t he Soviet s',[62] an issue on which
t he coalit ion part ies t hemselves init ially had significant ly different opinions. The Lega Nord
insist ed on a federalist reform (devolut ion of more power t o t he regions) as a condit ion for
remaining in t he coalit ion. The Nat ional Alliance part y pushed for a so-called 'st rong
premiership' (more powers t o t he Prime Minist er), int ended as a count erweight t o any
federalist reform, t o preserve t he int egrit y of t he nat ion. The Union of Christ ian and Cent re
Democrat s asked for a proport ional elect oral law t hat would not damage small part ies, and
was generally more willing t o discuss compromises wit h t he moderat e wing of t he opposit ion.
Difficult ies in negot iat ing an agreement caused some int ernal unrest in t he Berlusconi
government in 2003, but t hey were most ly overcome and t he law (including devolut ion of
powers t o t he regions, Federal Senat e and "st rong premiership") was passed by t he Senat e in
April 2004; it was slight ly modified by t he Chamber of Deput ies in Oct ober 2004, and again in
Oct ober 2005, and finally approved by t he Senat e on 16 November 2005, wit h a narrow
majorit y. Approval in a referendum is necessary t o amend t he It alian Const it ut ion wit hout a
qualified t wo-t hirds parliament ary majorit y. The referendum was held on 25–26 July 2006 and
result ed in t he reject ion of t he const it ut ional reform, wit h 61.3% of vot ers cast ing ballot s
against it .
2006 election and opposition
Operat ing under a new elect oral law writ t en unilat erally by t he governing part ies wit h st rong
crit icism from t he parliament ary opposit ion, t he April 2006 general elect ion was held. The
result s of t his elect ion handed Romano Prodi's cent re-left coalit ion, known as The Union,
(Berlusconi's opposit ion) a very t hin majorit y: 49.8% against 49.7% for t he cent re-right
coalit ion House of Freedoms in t he Lower House, and a t wo-senat or lead in t he Senat e (158
senat ors for The Union and 156 for t he House of Freedoms). The Court of Cassat ion
subsequent ly validat ed t he vot ing procedures and det ermined t hat t he elect ion process was
const it ut ional.
According t o t he new elect oral rules, The Union, (nicknamed "The Soviet Union" by
Berlusconi[63] wit h a margin of only 25,224 vot es (out of over 38 million vot ers), nevert heless
won 348 seat s (compared t o 281 for t he House of Freedoms) in t he lower house as a result
of a majorit y premium given t o whichever coalit ion of part ies was awarded more vot es.
This elect oral law, approved short ly before t he elect ion by Berlusconi's coalit ion in an
at t empt t o improve t heir chances of winning t he elect ion, led t o t he coalit ion's defeat and
gave Prodi t he chance t o form a new cabinet . However, Prodi's coalit ion consist ed of a large
number of smaller part ies. If only one of t hese nine part ies t hat formed The Union wit hdrew
it s support t o Prodi, his government would have collapsed. This sit uat ion was also t he result
of t he new "diabolic" elect oral syst em.[64]
Cent rist part ies such as t he Union of Christ ian and Cent re Democrat s immediat ely conceded
The Union's vict ory, while ot her part ies, like Berlusconi's Forza It alia and t he Nort hern League,
refused t o accept it s validit y, right up unt il 2 May 2006, when Berlusconi submit t ed his
resignat ion t o President Ciampi.[65]
2008 electoral victory
Berlusconi addressing a crowd during a PdL meeting in 2008
In t he run-up t o t he 2006 general elect ion, t here had been t alk among some of t he coalit ion
members of t he House of Freedoms about a possible merger int o a "unit ed part y of
moderat es and reformers". Forza It alia, t he Nat ional Alliance part y of Gianfranco Fini, and t he
Union of Christ ian and Cent re Democrat s of Pier Ferdinando Casini all seemed int erest ed in
t he project . Soon aft er t he elect ion, however, Casini st art ed t o dist ance his part y from it s
hist orical allies.
On 2 December 2006, during a major demonst rat ion of t he cent re-right in Rome against t he
government led by Romano Prodi, Berlusconi proposed t he foundat ion of a "Freedom Party",
arguing t hat t he people and vot ers of t he different polit ical movement s aligned t o t he
demonst rat ion were all part of a "people of freedom".
On 18 November 2007, aft er claiming t he collect ion of more t han 7 million signat ures
(including t hat of Umbert o Bossi) demanding t hat t he President of t he Republic Giorgio
Napolit ano call a fresh elect ion,[66] Berlusconi announced from t he running board of a car in a
crowded Piazza San Babila in Milan[67] t hat Forza It alia would soon merge or t ransform int o
The People of Freedom part y, also known as t he PdL (Il Popolo della Libert à).[68][69]
Berlusconi also st at ed t hat t his new polit ical movement could include t he part icipat ion of
ot her part ies.[70] Bot h support ers and crit ics of t he new part y called Berlusconi's
announcement "the running board revolution".[71][72][73]
Berlusconi with the United States president Barack Obama in the Oval Office on 15 June 2009
Aft er t he sudden fall of t he Prodi II Cabinet on 24 January, t he break-up of The Union
coalit ion and t he subsequent polit ical crisis (which paved t he way for a fresh general elect ion
in April 2008), Berlusconi, Gianfranco Fini and ot her part y leaders finally agreed on 8 February
2008 t o form a joint list named The People of Freedom (It alian: Il Popolo della Libertà), allied
wit h t he Lega Nord of Umbert o Bossi and wit h t he Sicilian Movement for Aut onomy of
Raffaele Lombardo.[74]
In t he snap parliament ary elect ions held on 13/14 April 2008, t his coalit ion won against Walt er
Velt roni's cent re-left coalit ion in bot h houses of t he It alian Parliament .
In t he 315-member Senat e of t he Republic, Berlusconi's coalit ion won 174 seat s t o Velt roni's
134. In t he lower house, Berlusconi's conservat ive bloc led by a margin of 9% of t he vot e:
46.5% (344 seat s) t o 37.5% (246 seat s). Berlusconi capit alised on discont ent over t he nat ion's
st agnat ing economy and t he unpopularit y of Prodi's government . His declared t op priorit ies
were t o remove piles of rubbish from t he st reet s of Naples and t o improve t he st at e of t he
It alian economy, which had under-performed t he rest of t he Eurozone for years. He also said
he was open t o working wit h t he opposit ion, and pledged t o fight t ax avoidance and t ax
evasion, reform t he judicial syst em and reduce public debt . He int ended t o reduce t he number
of Cabinet minist ers t o 12. Berlusconi and his minist ers (Berlusconi IV Cabinet ) were sworn in
on 8 May 2008.
Anti-Berlusconi demonstration, held during his visit to Amsterdam in 2009
On 21 November 2008, t he Nat ional Council of Forza It alia, chaired by Alfredo Biondi and
at t ended by Berlusconi himself, dissolved Forza It alia and est ablished The People of
Freedom, whose inaugurat ion t ook place on 27 March 2009, t he 15t h anniversary of
Berlusconi's first elect oral vict ory.
While Forza It alia had never held a formal part y congress t o formulat e it s rules, procedures,
and democrat ic ballot ing for candidat es and issues, (since 1994 t hree part y convent ions of
Forza It alia have been held, all of t hem resolving t o support Berlusconi and reelect ing him by
acclamat ion) on 27 March 2009, at t he foundat ion congress of t he People of Freedom
polit ical movement t he st at ut e of t he new part y was subject t o a vot e of approval. On 5,820
vot ing delegat es, 5,811 vot ed in favour, 4 against and 5 abst ained.[75] During t hat polit ical
congress Berlusconi was elect ed as Chairman of t he People of Freedom by a show of hands.
According t o t he official minut es of t he congress t he result favoured Berlusconi, wit h 100 per
cent of t he delegat es vot ing for him.[76][77][78]
The People of Freedom split
Berlusconi with his historic ally, Gianfranco Fini, and then President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano in 2009
Bet ween 2009 and 2010, Gianfranco Fini, former leader of t he nat ional conservat ive Nat ional
Alliance (AN) and President of t he It alian Chamber of Deput ies, became a vocal crit ic of t he
leadership of Berlusconi. Fini depart ed from part y's majorit y line on several issues but , most
of all, he was a proponent of a more st ruct ured part y organisat ion. His crit icism was aimed at
t he leadership st yle of Berlusconi, who t ends t o rely on his personal charisma t o lead t he
part y from t he cent re and support s a less st ruct ured form of part y, a movement -part y t hat
organises it self only at elect ion t imes.[79]
On 15 April 2010, an associat ion named Generat ion It aly was launched t o bet t er represent
Fini's views wit hin t he part y and push for a different form of part y organisat ion.[80] On 22 April
2010 t he Nat ional Commit t ee of t he PdL convened in Rome for t he first t ime in a year. The
conflict bet ween Fini and Berlusconi was covered live on t elevision. At t he end of t he day, a
resolut ion proposed by Berlusconi's loyalist s was put before t he assembly and approved by a
landslide margin.[81] On 29 July 2010, t he part y execut ive released a document in which Fini
was described as "incompat ible" wit h t he polit ical line of t he PdL and unable t o perform his
job of President of t he Chamber of Deput ies in a neut ral way. Berlusconi asked Fini t o st ep
down, and t he execut ive proposed t he suspension from part y membership of t hree MPs who
had harshly crit icised Berlusconi and accused some part y members of criminal offences.[82]
As response, Fini and his followers formed t heir own groups in bot h chambers under t he name
of Fut ure and Freedom (FLI).[83][84][85][86] It was soon clear t hat FLI would leave t he PdL and
become an independent part y. On 7 November, during a convent ion in Bast ia Umbra, Fini asked
Berlusconi t o st ep down from his post of Prime Minist er and proposed a new government
including t he Union of t he Cent re (UdC).[87] A few days lat er, t he four FLI members of t he
government resigned.[88] On 14 December, FLI vot ed against Berlusconi in a vot e of
confidence in t he Chamber of Deput ies, a vot e nonet heless won by Berlusconi by 314 t o
311.[89][90]
Berlusconi with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011
In May 2011, PdL suffered a big blow in local elect ions. Part icularly painful was t he loss of
Milan, Berlusconi's homet own and part y st ronghold.[91] In response t o t his and t o conflict s
wit hin part y ranks, Angelino Alfano, t he Just ice minist er, was chosen as nat ional secret ary in
charge of reorganising and renewing t he part y.[92] The appoint ment of 40-year-old Alfano, a
former Christ ian Democrat and lat er leader of Forza It alia in Sicily, was unanimously decided
by t he part y execut ive. On 1 July, t he Nat ional Council modified t he part y's const it ut ion and
Alfano was elect ed secret ary almost unanimously. In his accept ance speech, Alfano
proposed t he int roduct ion of primaries.[93]
Resignation
On 10 Oct ober, t he Chamber of Deput ies reject ed t he law on t he budget of t he St at e
proposed by t he government .[94] As a result of t his event Berlusconi moved for a confidence
vot e in t he Chamber on 14 Oct ober, he won t he vot e wit h just 316 vot es t o 310, minimum
required t o ret ain a majorit y.[95] An increasing number of Deput ies cont inued t o cross t he floor
and join t he opposit ion and on 8 November t he Chamber approved t he law on t he budget of
t he St at e previously reject ed but wit h only 308 vot es, while opposit ion part ies didn't
part icipat e in t he vot e t o highlight t hat Berlusconi lost his majorit y.[96] Aft er t he vot e,
Berlusconi announced his resignat ion aft er Parliament passed economic reforms.[97] Among
ot her t hings, his perceived failure t o t ackle It aly's debt crisis wit h an est imat ed debt sum of
€1.9 t rillion ($2.6 t rillion) had urged Berlusconi t o leave office. The popularit y of t his decision
was reflect ed in t he fact t hat while he was resigning crowds sang t he hallelujah port ion of
George Frederick Handel's "Messiah", complet e wit h some vocal accompaniment ; t here was
also dancing in t he st reet s out side t he Quirinal Palace, t he official residence of t he President
of It aly, where Berlusconi went t o t ender his resignat ion.[98]
Crowd in front of Quirinal Palace during Berlusconi's resignation as Prime Minister
Aust erit y mesures were passed, raising €59.8 billion from spending cut s and t ax raises,
including freezing public-sect or salaries unt il 2014 and gradually increasing t he ret irement age
for women in t he privat e sect or from 60 in 2014 t o 65 in 2026.[99] The resignat ion also came
at a difficult t ime for Berlusconi, as he was involved in numerous t rials for corrupt ion, fraud and
sex offences. He was oft en found guilt y in lower court s but used loopholes in It aly's legal
syst em t o evade incarcerat ion.[99]
Berlusconi had also failed t o meet some of his pre-elect ion promises and had failed t o
prevent economic decline and int roduce serious reforms.[99] Many believed t hat t he problems
and doubt s over Berlusconi's leadership and his coalit ion were one of t he fact ors t hat
cont ribut ed t o market anxiet ies over an imminent It alian financial disast er, which could have a
pot ent ially cat ast rophic effect on t he 17-nat ion eurozone and t he world economy.[100] Many
crit ics of Berlusconi accused him of using his power primarily t o prot ect his own business
vent ures.[99] Umbert o Bossi, leader of Lega Nord, a part ner in Berlusconi's right -wing coalit ion,
was quot ed as informing report ers out side parliament , "We asked t he prime minist er t o st ep
aside."[101]
On 12 November 2011, aft er a final meet ing wit h his cabinet , Berlusconi met It alian President
Giorgio Napolit ano at t he Palazzo del Quirinale t o t end his resignat ion.[102] As he arrived at t he
president ial residence, a host ile crowd gat hered wit h banners insult ing Berlusconi and
t hrowing coins at t he car. Aft er his resignat ion, t he booing and jeering cont inued as he left in
his convoy, wit h t he public shout ing words such as "buffoon", "dict at or" and "mafioso".[103]
Following Berlusconi's resignat ion, Mario Mont i formed a new government t hat would remain in
office unt il t he next scheduled elect ions in 2013.[104][105] On 16 November, Mont i announced
t hat he had formed a Cabinet and was sworn in as Prime Minist er of It aly, also appoint ing
himself as Minist er of Economy and Finances.[106]
In t he following years Berlusconi oft en expressed his point of view regarding his resignat ion in
2011. He accused Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Christ ine Lagarde and Giorgio Napolit ano,
along wit h ot her global economic and financial powers, t o have plot t ed against him and
forced him t o resign, because he refused t o accept a loan from t he Int ernat ional Monet ary
Fund, which according t o him, would have sold t he count ry t o t he IMF.[107][108] This t heory was
confirmed by t he former Prime Minist er of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapat ero.[109]
2013 general election
Berlusconi at the EPP summit in March 2012
In December 2012, Berlusconi announced on t elevision t hat he would run again t o become
Prime Minist er.[110] Berlusconi said his part y's plat form would include opposit ion t o Mont i's
economic performance, which he said put It aly int o a "recessive spiral wit hout end." He also
t old t he media, on t he sidelines of AC Milan's pract ice session (t he foot ball club he owns
along wit h Mediaset , t he largest media out let in t he count ry): "I race t o win. To win, everyone
said t here had t o be a t est ed leader. It 's not t hat we did not look for one. We did, and how!
But t here isn't one...I'm doing it out of a sense of responsibilit y."
On 7 January 2013, Berlusconi announced he had made a coalit ion agreement (Cent re-right
coalit ion) wit h Lega Nord (LN); as part of it , PdL would support Robert o Maroni's bid for t he
presidency of Lombardy, and he will run as "leader of t he coalit ion", but suggest ed he could
accept a role as Minist er of Economy under a cabinet headed by anot her People of Freedom
member, such as Angelino Alfano. Lat er t hat day, LN leader Maroni confirmed his part y will not
support Berlusconi being appoint ed as Prime Minist er in t he case of an elect oral win.[111]
Berlusconi's coalit ion gained 29.1% of vot es and 125 seat s in t he Chamber of Deput ies, 30.7%
of vot es and 117 seat s in t he Senat e.[112]
In April 2013, Berlusconi's People of Freedom announced his support of t he government of
Enrico Let t a, t oget her wit h t he Democrat ic Part y and t he cent rist Civic Choice, of former
Prime Minist er Mario Mont i.[46]
Refoundation of Forza Italia and public office ban
Berlusconi in May 2019
In June 2013, Berlusconi announced t he refoundat ion of his first part y Forza It alia.[113][114] On
18 Sept ember t he new part y was launched and officially founded on 16 November.[115] Aft er
t he foundat ion of Forza It alia, Berlusconi announced t hat his new part y will be opposed t o t he
Grand coalit ion government of Enrico Let t a; but t he new polit ical posit ion t aken by Berlusconi
caused dissent in t he movement , and t he "government al" wing of Forza It alia, led by t he VicePrime Minist er and Minist er of Int erior Angelino Alfano split from FI and founded a Christ ian
democrat ic part y called New Cent re-Right , in support of t he government .[116]
1 August 2013, he was convict ed of t ax-fraud by t he court of final inst ance, t he Court of
Cassat ion, confirming his four-year prison sent ence [9] (of which t hree years are aut omat ically
pardoned) along wit h a public office ban for t wo years. As his age exceeded 70 years, he was
exempt ed from direct imprisonment , and inst ead served his sent ence by doing unpaid social
communit y work. Because he was sent enced t o a gross imprisonment of more t han t wo
years, a new It alian ant icorrupt ion law result ed in t he Senat e expelling and barring him from
serving in any legislat ive office for six years.[10][11] Berlusconi has pledged t o st ay leader of
Forza It alia t hroughout his cust odial sent ence and public office ban.[9][12] However he was not
able t o campaign for his part y and, according t o him, t his was t he main reason for declining
opinion poll numbers, which are put t ing t he part y st eadily in fourt h place, behind t he
Democrat ic Part y, t he Five St ar Movement and FI's long-t ime coalit ion part ner Lega Nord.
In March 2017 he expressed his int ent ion t o run once again as cent re-right candidat e for t he
premiership, even if he is banned from public office unt il 2019;[117][118] t he 2018 general
elect ion was his sevent h one as t he cent re-right front unner. However, t he general elect ion
result ed in t he Lega Nord winning more seat s t han Forza It alia, and no elect oral coalit ion
winning an out right majorit y.[119]
Political comeback and election to European Parliament
In January 2019, Berlusconi expressed his int ent ion t o run for candidacy in t he 2019 European
Parliament elect ion in It aly.[120] In t he elect ion, Forza It alia received only 8.8% of vot es, t he
worst result in it s hist ory. Berlusconi was elect ed in t he Parliament , becoming t he oldest
member of t he assembly.[121] He was a pot ent ial nominee in t he 2022 president ial elect ion,
which was ult imat ely won by Sergio Mat t arella.[122][123] From 2019 t o 2022, Berlusconi had
t he lowest at t endance rat e among MEPs wit h 59%, largely because of mont hs of dealing
wit h sympt oms aft er cat ching COVID-19 in Sept ember 2020.[124]
Foreign policy
Berlusconi with the U.S. president George W. Bush at the White House
Berlusconi and his cabinet s have had a st rong t endency t o support American foreign
policies,[125] despit e t he policy divide bet ween t he U.S. and many founding members of t he
European Union (Germany, France, Belgium) during t he Bush administ rat ion.[126] Under
Berlusconi's lead, t he It alian Government also shift ed it s t radit ional posit ion on foreign policy
from being t he most pro-Arab[127] west ern government t owards a great er friendship wit h
Israel and Turkey t han in t he past .[128][129] This result ed in a rebalancing of relat ions bet ween
all t he Medit erranean count ries, t o reach equal closeness wit h t hem. Berlusconi is one of t he
st rongest support ers of Turkey's applicat ion t o accede t o t he European Union.[130] To
support Turkey's applicat ion t he It alian Premier invit ed Prime Minist er Erdoğan t o t ake part in
a meet ing of t he European leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, t he Net herlands, Spain,
Sweden, and t he Unit ed Kingdom, gat hered in L'Aquila for t he 2009 G8 summit .[131][132] It aly,
wit h Berlusconi in office, became a solid ally of t he Unit ed St at es due t o his support for t he
War in Afghanist an and t he Iraq War following t he 2003 invasion of Iraq in t he War on Terror.
On 30 January 2003, Berlusconi signed The letter of the eight support ing US. policy on Iraq.[133]
Berlusconi, in his meet ings wit h Unit ed Nat ions Secret ary-General Kofi Annan and U.S.
President George W. Bush, said t hat he pushed for "a clear t urnaround in t he Iraqi sit uat ion"
and for a quick handover of sovereignt y t o t he government chosen by t he Iraqi people.[134]
It aly had some 3,200 t roops deployed in Sout hern Iraq, t he t hird largest cont ingent t here
aft er t he American and Brit ish forces.[135] When Romano Prodi became Prime Minist er, It alian
t roops were gradually wit hdrawn from Iraq in t he second half of 2006 wit h t he last soldiers
leaving t he count ry in December of t hat year.
Relations with Russia
Berlusconi with the Russian president Vladimir Putin in Italy, 2008
In November 2007, It aly's st at e-owned energy company Eni signed an agreement wit h Russian
st at e-owned Gazprom t o build t he Sout h St ream pipeline.[136] Invest igat ing It alian parliament
members discovered t hat Cent ral Energy It alian Gas Holding (CEIGH), a part of t he Cent rex
Group, was t o play a major role in t he lucrat ive agreement . Bruno Ment ast i-Granelli, a close
friend of Berlusconi, owned 33 percent of CEIGH. The It alian parliament blocked t he cont ract
and accused Berlusconi of having a personal int erest in t he Eni-Gazprom agreement .[136][137]
Berlusconi is among t he most vocal support ers of closer t ies bet ween Russia and t he
European Union. In an art icle published in It alian media on 26 May 2002, he said t hat t he next
st ep in Russia's growing int egrat ion wit h t he West should be EU membership.[138] On 17
November 2005, Berlusconi comment ed, in relat ion t o t he prospect of such membership, t hat
he is "convinced t hat even if it is a dream ... it is not t oo dist ant a dream and I t hink it will
happen one day."[139] The Prime Minist er of It aly has made similar comment s on ot her
occasions as well.[140]
Berlusconi had a warm relat ionship wit h Vladimir Put in.[141] In Sept ember 2014, Berlusconi
accused t he Unit ed St at es, NATO and EU of "a ridiculously and irresponsibly sanct ioning
approach t o t he Russian Federat ion, which cannot but defend Ukrainian cit izens of Russian
origin t hat it considers brot hers".[142]
The t wo leaders oft en described t heir relat ionship as a close friendship, cont inuing t o
organize bilat eral meet ings even aft er Berlusconi's resignat ion in November 2011.[143]
Berlusconi condemned t he 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying he was deeply
disappoint ed by t he behaviour of Russian President Put in.[144]
Relations with Israel
Under Berlusconi, It aly was an ally of Israel. Benjamin Net anyahu said of Berlusconi: "We are
lucky t hat t here is a leader such as yourself. I don't believe we have a bet t er friend in t he
int ernat ional communit y."[145] Berlusconi has been not ed for his close and friendly relat ionship
wit h Israeli Prime Minist er Net anyahu.[146] Net anyahu describes Berlusconi as "one of t he
great est friends".[147] Berlusconi believed t hat Israel should be made an EU member, st at ing
t hat "My great est desire, as long as I am a prot agonist in polit ics, is t o bring Israel int o
membership of t he European Union".[147] Berlusconi has st rongly defended Israel in t he Israeli–
Palest inian conflict , cont inuing his support for Israel aft er leaving office.[148]
While Berlusconi was in office, Israel and It aly negot iat ed a $1 billion deal whereby Israel
builds reconnaissance sat ellit es for It aly, while Israel purchases t he M-346 t raining plane for
it s air-force.[149]
Relations with Belarus
Berlusconi visit ed Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus in 2009. Berlusconi became t he first
West ern leader t o visit Lukashenko since Lukashenko came t o power in 1994. At a press
conference, Berlusconi paid compliment s t o Lukashenko and said "Good luck t o you and your
people, whom I know love you".[150][151]
Cooperation with the Western Balkans
Map of international trips made by Berlusconi as Prime Minister
On 5 April 2009, at t he EU-US summit in Prague Berlusconi proposed an eight -point road map
t o accelerat e t he Euro-At lant ic int egrat ion of t he west ern Balkans. During t hat summit t he
It alian Foreign Minist er Franco Frat t ini urged his European colleagues t o send "visible and
concret e" signs t o t he count ries concerned (Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Mont enegro, Croat ia,
Macedonia, and Albania).[152]
Relations with Libya
On 30 August 2008, t he Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and It alian Prime Minist er Berlusconi
signed a hist oric cooperat ion t reat y in Benghazi.[153][154][155] Under it s t erms, It aly would pay
$5 billion t o Libya as compensat ion for it s former milit ary occupat ion. In exchange, Libya
would t ake measures t o combat illegal immigrat ion coming from it s shores and boost
invest ment in It alian companies.[154][156] The t reat y was rat ified by t he It alian government on
6 February 2009,[153] and by Libya on 2 March, during a visit t o Tripoli by Berlusconi.[154][157] In
June Gaddafi made his first visit t o Rome, where he met Prime Minist er Berlusconi, It alian
President of t he Republic Giorgio Napolit ano and Senat e's Speaker Renat o Schifani.[154]
Gaddafi also t ook part in t he G8 summit in L'Aquila in July as Chairman of t he African Union.[154]
During t he summit a warm handshake bet ween US President Barack Obama and Muammar
Gaddafi t ook place (t he first t ime t he Libyan leader had been greet ed by a serving US
president ).[158] Lat er, at t he summit 's official dinner host ed by President Giorgio Napolit ano,
US and Libyan leaders upset prot ocol by sit t ing next t o It alian Prime Minist er and G8 host
Berlusconi. (According t o prot ocol, Gaddafi should have sat t hree places away from
Berlusconi).[159][160][161]
However, when Gaddafi faced a civil war in 2011, It aly imposed a freeze on some Libyan
asset s linked t o him and his family, pursuant t o a Unit ed Nat ions-sponsored regime [162] and
t hen bombed t he count ry wit h t he violat ion of Libya of t he No-Fly Zone. Aft er t he deat h of
Gaddafi, It aly recognized t he Nat ional Transit ional Council as t he government of Libya.
Berlusconism
Berlusconismo (English: Berlusconism) is a t erm used in It alian media and polit ical analyst s t o
describe t he polit ical posit ions of Berlusconi.
Origins and features
Berlusconi with President George W. Bush, in Texas, 2005
The t erm "Berlusconismo" arose in t he 1980s, wit h a st rongly posit ive meaning, as a synonym
for entrepreneurial optimism, t hat is, as an ent repreneurial spirit which is not shaken by
difficult ies, and believes t hat problems can be solved.[163] However, in t he 21st cent ury, t he
meaning has changed.
According t o t he It alian definit ion given by t he online vocabulary of t he Encyclopedia
Inst it ut e, Berlusconismo has a wide range of meanings, all having t heir origins in t he figure of
Berlusconi, and t he polit ical movement inspired by him: t he "t hought movement ",[164] but also
t o "social phenomenon",[164] and, even, t he phenomenon "of cust om"[164] bound t o his
ent repreneurial and polit ical figure. The t erm is also used t o refer t o a cert ain laissez-faire
vision support ed by him, not in t he economy and market s, but also in relat ion t o polit ics.[164]
According t o Berlusconi's polit ical and ent repreneurial opponent s, Berlusconismo is only a
form of demagogic populism, comparable t o Fascism, in part because Berlusconi has
defended aspect s of t he regime of Benit o Mussolini,[165] even t hough he has crit icised t he
racial Fascist laws and t he alliance wit h Nazi Germany.[166][167] In 2013, he ret urned t o calling
Mussolini a good leader whose biggest mist ake was signing up t o ext erminat e t he Jews.[168]
Cont rast ingly his support ers compare Berlusconismo t o French Gaullism and Argent inian
Peronism.[169]
Political positions
Berlusconi, U.S. vice-president Joe Biden and Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev meeting in Italy in June 2011
Berlusconi defines himself as moderat e,[170] liberal, and a free t rader,[171] but he is oft en also
described as a populist or a conservat ive.[172][173] Aft er his resignat ion in 2011, Berlusconi has
become increasingly Euroscept ic,[174] and he is oft en crit ical of German Chancellor Angela
Merkel.[175][176]
One of Berlusconi's main leadership t act ics is t o use t he part y as an apparat us t o reach power
(defined as a "light part y", because of a lack of a complex st ruct ure).[171] This is decidedly
comparable t o t he polit ical t act ics used by Charles De Gaulle in France. Anot her feat ure of
great import ance is emphasis on a "liberal revolut ion", summarised by t he "Cont ract wit h t he
It alians" of 2001.[171] "The st rong reformism is added t o t hese pillars, principally on t he form
of t he It alian st at e and t he const it ut ion"[171] including t he passage from a Parliament ary
Republic t o a President ial one,[177] a higher elect ion t hreshold, t he abolit ion of Senat e, a
halving in t he number of deput ies, t he abolit ion of t he provinces and t he reform of t he
judiciary, wit h separat ion of t he careers bet ween magist rat es and magist rat es's civil
responsibilit y, from Berlusconi considered impart ial.[177] Berlusconi has declared himself t o be
persecut ed by judges, having undergone 34 t rials,[178] accusing t hem of being manipulat ed by
left -wingers and comparing himself t o Enzo Tort ora, vict im of a miscarriage of just ice. More
recent ly, Berlusconi has declared himself favourable t o civil unions.[179][180][181]
Comparisons to other leaders
Berlusconi among the crowd during his trip in Crimea, 2015
A number of writ ers and polit ical comment at ors consider Berlusconi's polit ical success a
precedent for t he 2016 elect ion of real est at e t ycoon Donald Trump as t he 45t h President
of t he Unit ed St at es,[182][183][184] wit h most not ing Berlusconi's panned Prime Minist erial
t enure and t herefore making t he comparison in dismay. Roger Cohen of The New York Times
argued, "Widely ridiculed, endlessly writ t en about , long unscat hed by his evident misogyny and
diverse legal t ravails, Berlusconi proved a Teflon polit ician [...] Nobody who knows Berlusconi
and has wat ched t he rise and rise of Donald Trump can fail t o be st ruck by t he parallels."[185]
The New York Times also published an int eract ive quiz called "Name That Narcissist ", which
compiled quot es from bot h polit icians wit h t he reader having t o guess whet her each one was
ut t ered by Berlusconi or Trump.[186] In The Daily Beast, Barbie Lat za Nadeau wrot e, "If
Americans are wondering just what a Trump presidency would look like, t hey only need t o look
at t he t raumat ized remains of It aly aft er Berlusconi had his way."[187] During t he 2016
president ial elect ion, Politico described Berlusconi as t he closest parallel t o Trump in a
hist orical world leader[188] and t hat his t enure as It aly's Prime Minist er is a good bellwet her of
what a Trump presidency would be like.[189]
In a piece writ t en for Slate and published in April 2017, Lorenzo Newman not ed t he similarit ies
in t he career t raject ories bet ween t he t wo men – "Bot h grew t heir fort unes on allegedly
mafia-linked real-est at e development s, t ransit ioned int o successful careers as media moguls,
and, against all odds, ascended t o t he helm of t heir respect ive nat ional government s" – but
also highlight ed t heir shared t endency t o quest ion and undermine est ablished inst it ut ions
such as t he judiciary and t he press, t he way t hat neit her of t hem had been accept ed by t heir
count ries' respect ive est ablishment s despit e t heir wealt h, and how t hey channelled t he
result ing resent ment int o a populist form of polit ics by "port raying t hemselves as everymen,
if not in wealt h, t hen in language, t one (and) aspirat ions". He also point ed out ot her
commonalit ies, such as responding t o concerns about conflict s of int erest by delegat ing
responsibilit y for running t heir businesses t o family members.[190]
Andrej Babiš, t he current Prime Minist er of t he Czech Republic has also been compared t o
Berlusconi due t o his media ownership, business act ivit ies, polit ical influence and legal
problems wit h a prison sent ence hanging over him. An art icle published by t he American
magazine Foreign Policy drew parallels bet ween t he t wo, labelling Babiš wit h t he nickname
"Babisconi".[191]
Brit ish hist orian Perry Anderson wrot e t hat despit e Berlusconi's reput at ion as an enfant
t errible of t he European right , his act ual policy record places him "t o t he left of Bill Clint on,
who built much of his career in America on policies – delivering execut ions in Arkansas,
scyt hing welfare in Washingt on – t hat would be unt hinkable for any Prime Minist er in
It aly.”[192]
Legal problems
Berlusconi in 2009
Ongoing trials
As of April 2014, aft er t he Unipol case had been complet ed wit h Berlusconi being acquit t ed
due t o t he st at ut e of limit at ions, Berlusconi is involved in t hree ongoing court t rials.
Abuse of office – The Unipol case (2005)
In February 2012, Milan prosecut ors brought charges against Berlusconi for alleged abuse of
office connect ed wit h t he publicat ion of confident ial wiret aps by t he It alian newspaper Il
Giornale, which is owned by Berlusconi's brot her, in 2005.[193][194] The publicat ion of t he
conversat ions bet ween t hen Governor of t he Bank of It aly Ant onio Fazio, senior management
of Unipol and It alian cent re-left polit ician Piero Fassino was a breach of secrecy rules and
was seen at t he t ime as an at t empt t o discredit Berlusconi's polit ical rivals. Their publicat ion
also event ually led t o t he collapse of t he proposed t akeover of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro
by Unipol and t he resignat ion of Fazio.[193] The head of t he company used by It alian
prosecut ors t o record t he conversat ions has been previously convict ed of st ealing t he
recordings and making t hem available t o Berlusconi.[194] On 7 February 2012, at an init ial court
hearing, Berlusconi denied he had list ened t o t he t apes and ordered t heir publicat ion.[194] On 7
March 2013, Berlusconi was sent enced t o a one-year jail t erm.[195] On 31 March 2014, t he
Milan Court of Appeal ruled t hat whilst t he evidence did not clear Paolo and Silvio Berlusconi
from guilt , t hey were bot h acquit t ed due t o t he st at ut es of limit at ions, alt hough an €80,000
compensat ory award t o Fassino was upheld.[196][197]
Bribery of senators supporting the Prodi government (2006)
In February 2013, Berlusconi was under invest igat ion for corrupt ion and illegal financing of
polit ical part ies by t he public prosecut or of Naples, in t he figures of Vincenzo Piscit elli, Henry
John Woodcock, Francesco Curcio, Alessandro Milit a and Fabrizio Vanorio. He is accused of
bribing in 2006, wit h €3 million (of which 1 million and 2 million declared t o t he t ax aut horit ies
in black), direct ed t o Senat or Sergio De Gregorio (t he former leader of t he It alians in t he
World part y) t o facilit at e it s passage int o t he ranks of t he Berlusconi-led coalit ion House of
Freedoms. Along wit h Berlusconi, a journalist (Valt er Lavit ola) at t he head of t he socialist
newspaper L'Avanti! was also invest igat ed, and Sergio De Gregorio self-confessed being t he
recipient of t he bribery.[198]
On 23 Oct ober 2013, Berlusconi and Valt er Lavit ola were bot h indict ed by t he judge for
preliminary hearings, Amelia Primavera. For Senat or De Gregorio t he process has already been
closed in a preliminary hearing, because he opt ed t o volunt arily confess and bargained a
reduced sent ence of 20 mont hs in prison for t he crime. The court hearing at first -inst ance for
t he indict ed Berlusconi, has been scheduled t o st art on 11 February 2014.[199][200] During t he
court proceedings, ex-senat or Paolo Rossi (a former member of The Olive Tree part y) also
t est ified t o have been offered a bribe from Berlusconi by anot her ex-Senat or Ant onio
Tomassini (a former member of t he defunct Christ ian Democrat s), t o change polit ical sides
and join Berlusconi's cent er-right bloc, so t hat t hey t oget her could cause t he fall of t he
Romano Prodi government in 2006–08. According t o t he prosecut ors, Valt er Lavit ola was also
working on behalf of Berlusconi as a go-bet ween at t empt ing t o also bribe ot her senat ors.[201]
Defamation against Antonio Di Pietro (2008)
Berlusconi has repeat edly quest ioned t he legit imacy of t he legal degree of t he former
Operat ion "Clean Hands" magist rat e and leader of t he It aly of Values part y, Ant onio Di Piet ro,
when he during a 2008 elect ion rally and in an episode of t he t alk show Port a a Port a in March
2008 he repeat edly claimed t hat Di Piet ro had not obt ained his degree by passing t he exams,
but wit h t he aid of t he secret services, t o have a judge placed in t he syst em t o overt urn t he
part ies of t he so-called First Republic. Di Piet ro subsequent ly sued Berlusconi for aggravat ed
defamat ion in June 2008. The public prosecut or concluded t he preliminary invest igat ion 13
November 2009, by indict ing Berlusconi for t he defamat ion offence referred t o in Art icle 595
paragraph 2 of t he Criminal Code. The It alian Chamber of Deput ies t hen int ervened in t he case
by passing a decree 22 Sept ember 2010, grant ing all It alian parliament arians "absolut e
immunit y" for words spoken while elect ed.[202]
Antonio Di Pietro
On 5 Oct ober 2010, t he court in Vit erbo ruled t hat Berlusconi could not be judged or punished,
because of t he parliament ary immunit y enshrined in Art icle 68 of t he It alian const it ut ion
forbidding any legal prosecut ions against words spoken by parliament arians in t he course of
t heir "exercise of parliament ary dut ies", in conjunct ion wit h t he Chamber of Deput ies recent ly
having vot ed for a decree t o grant Berlusconi absolut e immunit y for any spoken words while
serving as a deput y. On 19 January 2012, t his judgement was set aside by t he Supreme Court ,
which ruled t hat Berlusconi had been speaking during a campaign rally and not in an
inst it ut ional set t ing; meaning he was not covered by t he immunit y prot ect ion provided for by
Art icle 68, and consequent ly should face a new t rial t o be held eit her at t he Vit erbo court or
t he Const it ut ional Court .[203][204]
On 10 January 2013, t he Vit erbo court decided t o t ransfer t he case for judgement direct ly t o
t he Const it ut ional Court .[205] The Const it ut ional Court ruled on 20 June 2013, t hat t he
Chamber of Deput ies decree having ext ended Berlusconi's immunit y beyond what was
provided for by t he const it ut ion, was a case wit h conflict of powers and should be
disregarded. This mean t hat Berlusconi does not enjoy any special immunit y prot ect ion for his
spoken words during elect ion campaigns, and t hat a court case now shall be held by t he
const it ut ional court , t o decide t he merit s of t he case.[206] Before t he case against Berlusconi
can begin, t he It alian Chamber of Deput ies however shall be called for t rial t o defend and
explain t he reasons for passing t heir unconst it ut ional law from 2010.[206] The court hearing
against t he Chamber of Deput ies t ook place on 8 July 2014,[207] where t he const it ut ional
court was asked t o deem t he concerned Chamber of Deput ies decree t o be unconst it ut ional
and annul it , by t he Court of Rome [208] and t he Vit erbo court .[202] On 18 July 2014, t he
Const it ut ional Court indeed ruled t he decree t o be unconst it ut ional and annulled it ; meaning
t hat t he civil court proceedings against Berlusconi now can cont inue.[209][210]
Soliciting minors for sex – Ruby case (2010)
In February 2011, Berlusconi was charged wit h paying for sex wit h night club dancer Karima El
Mahroug (also known by t he st age name Ruby Rubacuori) bet ween February and May 2010,
when she was one year below t he legal 18 years age-limit for providing sexual
services.[211][212] He was also charged wit h abusing his polit ical powers in an at t empt t o cover
up t he relat ionship (by t rying t o persuade t he police t o release t he girl while she was under
arrest for t heft , based on a false claim t hat she was a relat ive of Hosni Mubarak's).[211]
The fast -t rack t rial opened on 6 April and was adjourned unt il 31 May. El Mahroug's lawyer said
t hat Mahroug would not be at t aching herself t o t he case as a civil complainant and denies
t hat she ever made herself available for money. Anot her alleged vict im, Giorgia Iafrat e, also
decided not t o be a part y t o t he case.[213] In January 2013, judges reject ed an applicat ion
from Berlusconi's lawyers t o have t he t rial adjourned so t hat it would not int erfere wit h It aly's
2013 general elect ion in which Berlusconi was part icipat ing.[214] On 24 June 2013, Berlusconi
was found guilt y of paying El Mahroug for sex when she was 17 years old, and of abusing his
powers in an ensuing cover up. He was sent enced by t he Court of First Inst ance t o seven
years in jail, and banned from public office for life.[215] In January 2014, Berlusconi deposit ed
an appeal against t he judgment , request ing complet e absolut ion.[216] The appeal process
began on 20 June.[217] On 18 July 2014, t he It alian appeals court announced t he appeal had
been successful and t he convict ions against Berlusconi were being overt urned.[218] According
t o t he court 's published summary of t he judgement , Berlusconi was acquit t ed from t he
ext ort ion charges (abuse of power) because "t he fact does not exist " and from t he child
prost it ut ion charge because "t he fact is not a crime".[219] The more det ailed court reasoning
for acquit t al will be published wit hin 90 days, and t he prosecut or st at ed he would t hen most
likely appeal t he decision t o t he Court of Cassat ion.[220]
Ongoing investigations
In addit ion t o t he ongoing court t rials, Berlusconi is current ly also involved in t he following
t wo ongoing legal invest igat ions, which will evolve t o become an ongoing court t rial if t he
judge at t he preliminary hearing indict him of t he alleged crime:
Ruby ter (2011–13): Corrupt ion in judicial act s (bribing wit nesses) in connect ion wit h
evidence submit t ed at t he main "Ruby case". Allegedly a bribery wit h €2,500 paid per mont h
for each of t he 18 Olget t ine girls from Arcore (t he girls – including Ruby – part icipat ing in
t he evening event s at Berlusconi's residence) t o speak in favor of Berlusconi, had been
st art ed by his t wo defending lawyers, Niccolò Ghedini and Piero Longo, in t he aft ermat h of
t he opened police invest igat ion on 15 January 2011. In addit ion t he Mediaset journalist
Silvia Trevaini had allegedly been bribed, not only by t he same mont hly fee but also by
ext ra gift s equal t o €800,000. Finally Ruby, in part icular, had been promised by Berlusconi "a
huge reward if she would keep quiet or ot herwise make him mad", and Ruby had replied she
was "wait ing for €5 million". On 23 January 2014, t he public prosecut or Edmondo Brut i
Liberat i, asked for a legal case t o be opened for a preliminary hearing.[221]
Illegal financing of the political party Italians in the World: On 16 April 2014, t he Naples
prosecut or deposit ed new document s in which Berlusconi is under invest igat ion for t he
crime in recent years of illegal financing of t he polit ical part y It alians in t he World, being led
by ex-Senat or Sergio De Gregorio. Current ly t his process is under invest igat ion, wit h an
upcoming preliminary hearing t o decide if an court indict ment shall be filed.[222]
Cases with final convictions
As of Oct ober 2013, Berlusconi has only been convict ed by t he final appeal inst ance in 1 out
of 32 court cases.
Tax-fraud conviction in Mediaset trial (1988–98)
The Mediaset t rial was launched in April 2005, wit h indict ment of fourt een people (including
Berlusconi) for having commit t ed:[223][224]
(A) false account ing and embezzlement t o mask payment s of subst ant ial "black funds",
commit t ed in 1988–94.
(B) t ax fraud equal in t ot al t o more t han €62 million (120bn lira), commit t ed in 1988–98.
Bot h indict ment s were relat ed t o achievement of personal t ax evasion, t hrough illicit t rade of
movie right s bet ween Mediaset and secret fict ive foreign companies sit uat ed in t ax haven
nat ions, causing fict ive losses for Mediaset , wit h t he t rade gains being accumulat ed by t he
foreign companies owned by t he indict ed t ax fraudst ers, who ult imat ely had t he gains paid
out as personal profit wit hout paying t ax in It aly. In 2007, t he court case at first -inst ance had
not yet been launched, and t he prosecut ors dropped t he (A) charges against Berlusconi due
t o t he st at ut e of limit at ions, and for t he same reason t he (B) charges were narrowed down t o
t he 1994–98 period, in which t he prosecut or charged Berlusconi for having commit t ed a
personal t ax evasion of €7.3 million.[225]
On 26 Oct ober 2012, Berlusconi was sent enced t o four years of punishment by an It alian
court for t ax evasion.[226] The charges were in relat ion t o a scheme t o purchase overseas film
right s at inflat ed prices t hrough offshore companies. The four-year t erm was longer t han t he
t hree years and eight mont hs t he prosecut ors had request ed, but was short ened t o one year
in accord wit h a 2006 amnest y law int ended t o reduce prison overcrowding. Berlusconi and his
co-defendant s were also ordered t o pay a 10 million euro fine and were banned from holding
public office for t hree years.[44][227]
On 8 May 2013, t he Court of Appeals in Milan confirmed t he four-year prison sent ence, and
ext ended t he public office ban t o five years.[228] On 1 August 2013, t he Court of Cassat ion
(final appeal) confirmed t he sent ence of 4 years, of which t he last t hree years are
aut omat ically pardoned.[229] The decision marked t he first t ime t hat Berlusconi received a
definit ive sent ence, despit e being on t rial nearly 30 t imes during t he last 25 years. In regards
of calculat ing t he exact lengt h of t he public office ban, t he Court of Cassat ion asked t he
lower court t o re-judge t his, because of prosecut ors having present ed new legal argument s
for t he ban t o be reduced from five t o t hree years. However, a new ant i-corrupt ion law passed
in lat e 2012, referred t o as t he Severino law, will bar Berlusconi from seeking elect ive office
for six years, independent ly of t he court 's final ruling regarding t he lengt h of t he public office
ban. The ramificat ion of his public office ban is t hat it makes him ineligible t o serve any public
office, but t echnically he will st ill be allowed as a non-candidat e t o cont inue leading his part y
and cent re-right coalit ion in elect ion campaigns. A similar sit uat ion occurred in March 2013,
when t he leader of t he Five St ar Movement , Beppe Grillo, convict ed over a road accident in
1988, led his part y's 2013 elect ion campaign despit e not being able t o run for public office
because of a rule est ablished wit hin his movement .[230]
Berlusconi, due t o being over 70 years of age, will not be placed direct in prison, but can
inst ead decide if he want s t o serve his one-year jail t erm eit her by a house arrest at one of his
privat e residences or by doing communit y service. As t he gross prison t erm exceeds t wo
years, t he Severino law prompt s t he It alian senat e t o vot e if Berlusconi shall be forced t o
resign his current senat e seat immediat ely, or alt ernat ively allowing t he court imposed ban on
holding public office only t o t ake effect by t he end of his current legislat ive t erm. The
pending senat e vot e, combined wit h anger over Berlusconi's convict ion – a poll indicat ed 42%
of t he public believe he has been unfairly persecut ed by t he magist rat es – present a serious
polit ical challenge for t he fragile ruling coalit ion.[230] On 3 August , Berlusconi suggest ed t hat
unless a "solut ion" t o his predicament could be found, It aly was at "risk of a civil war".[231] The
following day, t housands of support ers gat hered in front of his house in prot est of t he
ruling.[231]
On 30 August , t he It alian President Giorgio Napolit ano announced he had not select ed
Berlusconi as one of t he new four lifet ime senat ors, which are grant ed t he privileges of being
a lawmaker for life wit h some prot ect ed legal immunit y, meaning t hey can cont inue working in
polit ics even aft er being convict ed guilt y for criminal offences t hat ot herwise would lead t o
ban from serving one of t he public offices.[232] A Senat e commit t ee will begin it s
deliberat ions on 9 Sept ember, t o decide if Berlusconi's public office ban shall st art
immediat ely or by t he end of his current legislat ive t erm. Before t he commit t ee decision
becomes effect ive, it will need also t o be approved by a vot e in t he full Senat e.[232][233]
The deliberat ions of t he Senat e commit t ee are expect ed t o last for several weeks, before
t hey reach a decision. According t o t he Severino law, which became enact ed by t he Mont i
government in December 2012, anyone sent enced t o more t han t wo years in prison is
deemed ineligible t o hold public office for a period of six years (or eight years if convict ed for
"abuse of power"), and should immediat ely be expelled from t he parliament . Berlusconi has
argued t hat t he Severino law can not be used t o expel persons convict ed for crimes
commit t ed before December 2012, and pleaded for t he proceedings t o be post poned unt il
t he European Court of Human Right s or It aly's const it ut ional court had ruled, whet her or not
he was correct about his int erpret at ion of t he law. Berlusconi also st at ed t hat he in any case
had decided t o appeal t he court ruling against him t o t he European Court of Human Right s, as
he st ill claimed t he ruling it self t o be a polit ical and unjust at t empt by his opponent s, t o
deprive him of his polit ical power. The response by Prime Minist er Enrico Let t a's cent re-left
Democrat ic Part y was however t o reject Berlusconi's plea, accusing him of only launching
t ime-wast ing maneuvers.[11] Berlusconi's PDL part y t hen made a t hreat t o wit hdraw t heir
support for t he government if t he Senat e commit t ee expelled Berlusconi as senat or. The
Democrat ic Part y replied by warning t he PDL t hat t hey would reject any blackmail at t empt s,
and in any case only would vot e in t he Senat e commit t ee according t o t he st andard of t he
It alian law. Ahead of t he Senat e commit t ee's vot ing, t he leading criminal lawyer Paola
Severino, who helped design t he Severino law, st at ed t o t he La Repubblica newspaper t hat
t his specific law in her professional opinion clearly also applied for crimes being commit t ed
before it s enact ment in December 2012.[234]
On 10 Sept ember, at t he second day of t he Senat e deliberat ions, t he Democrat ic Part y
st at ed t hey int ended t o vot e down all t hree PDL submit t ed mot ions t o delay t he Senat e
deliberat ions, and accused PDL of obst ruct ing t he work of t he Senat e commit t ee by playing
delaying t act ics. Renat o Brunet t a, floor leader of t he PDL in t he lower house, responded by
saying "If t he Democrat ic Part y and Grillo's people decide t his evening t o vot e against t he
proposals, t he Democrat ic Part y will bring down t he Let t a government ".[235] The meet ing at
t he second day ended wit h PDL agreeing t o drop t heir series of t echnical object ions t o t ry t o
halt t he hearings, on t he agreement t hat each of t he commit t ee members could speak at
great er lengt h in a broad discussion on t he merit s of t he case.[236] On 18 Sept ember,
Berlusconi made a nat ional t elevised speech, in which he pledged t o st ay as part y leader of a
revived Forza It alia, no mat t er if t he Senat e would end up deciding t o expel him or not .[12] On
25 Sept ember, t he PDL parliament ary group agreed on a resolut ion t o t hreat en t he Senat e,
t hat if Berlusconi would be expelled, t hen all PDL parliament arians would immediat ely "reflect
on and decide according t o his or her conscience", whet her or not t o show sympat hy wit h
Berlusconi by resigning t heir own seat s in t he Senat e.[237] The Senat e Commit t ee
nevert heless vot ed 15:8 in support for a recommendat ion t o expel Berlusconi on 4
Oct ober,[238][239] and t en days lat er submit t ed a final report about t he case, so t hat it can be
scheduled for a final vot e in t he full Senat e by early November.[240][241] The Rules of
Procedure Committee decided at it s meet ing on 30 Oct ober, by t he vot es 7:6, t hat
Berlusconi's expulsion vot e shall not be conduct ed as a secret vot e but as an open public
vot e.[242] On 27 November 2013, t he Senat e vot ed 192:113 for enforcement of Berlusconi's
immediat e expulsion and a six-year ban from serving any legislat ive office.[243]
Berlusconi was expect ed t o st art serving his four-year prison sent ence (reduced t o one year),
eit her under house arrest or doing unpaid social communit y service, in mid-Oct ober 2013.[233]
In mid-Oct ober he informed t he court t hat he preferred t o serve t he sent ence by doing
communit y service. Because of bureaucracy in t he legal court syst em, it was however
expect ed his one-year-long full-t ime communit y service would only st art in around April
2014.[244] On 19 Oct ober, t he Milan appeal court ruled t hat Berlusconi's public office ban
should be reduced from five t o t wo years; which was lat er also confirmed by t he Court of
Cassat ion.[245] The court imposed t his public office ban, however t his did not change t he fact
t hat Berlusconi according t o t he Severino law[246] received a ban prevent ing him from running
as a candidat e in legislat ive elect ions for a prolonged six-year period,[243] which effect ively
superseded t he short er court imposed public office ban.[247] Berlusconi began his communit y
service at a Cat holic care home cent re on 9 May 2014, where he is required t o work four hours
a week for a year wit h elderly dement ia pat ient s.[248]
As of 2017, Berlusconi's appeal regarding his six-year public office ban was pending before t he
European Court of Human Right s.[249]
Controversies
Berlusconi has been involved in many cont roversies and over 20 court cases during his
polit ical career, including being sent enced t o four years imprisonment and a five-year ban
from public office by t he Court of Appeals for €7M t ax evasion (and €280M slush fund) on 8
May 2013, confirmed by t he Court of Cassat ion on 1 August 2013.[9][250] Due t o a general
pardon, his imprisonment was reduced t o one year,[9] which due t o his age can be served eit her
as a house arrest at his privat e residence or as communit y service.
On 24 June 2013, Berlusconi was found guilt y of paying an underage prost it ut e for sex, and of
abusing his powers in an ensuing cover up. He was sent enced t o seven years in jail, and banned
from public office for life. He was acquit t ed from t he sex charges by t he It aly appeals court
on Friday, 18 July 2014.[251][252]
Economic conflicts of interest
According t o journalist s Marco Travaglio and Enzo Biagi, Berlusconi ent ered polit ics t o save
his companies from bankrupt cy and himself from convict ions.[253] From t he very beginning he
said it clearly t o his associat es. Berlusconi's support ers hailed him as t he "novus homo", an
out sider who was going t o bring a new efficiency t o t he public bureaucracy and reform t he
st at e from t op t o bot t om.
Berlusconi was invest igat ed for fort y different inquest s in less t han t wo years.[254]
Berlusconi's government s passed laws t hat short ened st at ut ory t erms for t ax fraud. Romano
Prodi, who defeat ed Berlusconi in 2006, claimed t hat t hese were ad personam laws, meant t o
solve Berlusconi's problems and defend his int erest s.[255][256][257][258]
Media control and conflict of interest
Headquarters of Mediaset, Berlusconi's broadcasting company, in Cologno Monzese
Berlusconi's ext ensive cont rol over t he media has been widely crit icised by some
analyst s,[259] some press freedom organisat ions, and ext ensively by several It alian
newspapers, nat ional and privat e TV channels, by opposit ion leaders and in general members
of opposit ion part ies, who allege t hat It aly's media has limit ed freedom of expression.
However such coverage of t he complaint in pract ice put under discussion t he point of t he
complaint it self. The Freedom of the Press 2004 Global Survey, an annual st udy issued by t he
American organisat ion Freedom House, downgraded It aly's ranking from 'Free' t o 'Part ly
Free'[260] due t o Berlusconi's influence over RAI, a ranking which, in "West ern Europe" was
shared only wit h Turkey (as of 2005). Report ers Wit hout Borders st at es t hat in 2004, "The
conflict of int erest s involving Prime Minist er Berlusconi and his vast media empire was st ill
not resolved and cont inued t o t hreat en news diversit y".[261] In April 2004, t he Int ernat ional
Federat ion of Journalist s joined t he crit icism, object ing t o t he passage of a law vet oed by
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 2003, which crit ics believe is designed t o prot ect Berlusconi's
report ed 90% cont rol of t he It alian nat ional media.[262]
Berlusconi owns via Mediaset 3 of 7 nat ional TV channels: (Canale 5, It alia 1, and Ret e 4). In
2002, Luciano Violant e, a prominent member of t he Left , said in a speech in Parliament :
"Honourable Anedda, I invit e you t o ask t he honourable Berlusconi, because he cert ainly knows
t hat he received a full guarant ee in 1994, when t he government changed—t hat TV st at ions
would not be t ouched. He knows it and t he Honourable Let t a knows it ."[263][264] The aut hors
of t he book Inciucio[265] cit e t his sent ence as evidence for t he idea t hat t he Left made a
deal wit h Berlusconi in 1994, in which a promise was made not t o honour a law in t he
Const it ut ional Court of It aly t hat would have required Berlusconi t o give up one of his t hree
TV channels t o uphold pluralism and compet it ion. According t o t he aut hors, t his would be an
explanat ion of why t he Left , despit e having won t he 1996 elect ions, did not pass a law t o
solve t he conflict s of int erest bet ween media ownership and polit ics.
Berlusconi's influence over RAI became evident when in Sofia, Bulgaria he expressed his views
on journalist s Enzo Biagi and Michele Sant oro,[266] and comedian Daniele Lut t azzi. Berlusconi
said t hat t hey "use t elevision as a criminal means of communicat ion". They lost t heir jobs as a
result .[267] This st at ement was called by crit ics "Editto Bulgaro".
The TV broadcast ing of a sat irical programme called RAIot was censored in November 2003
aft er t he comedian Sabina Guzzant i made out spoken crit icism of t he Berlusconi media
empire.[268] Mediaset , one of Berlusconi's companies, sued RAI over Guzzant i's program,
demanding 20 million euros for "damages"; in November 2003 t he show was cancelled by t he
president of RAI, Lucia Annunziat a. The det ails of t he event were made int o a Michael Moorest yle document ary called Viva Zapatero!, which was produced by Guzzant i.
Mediaset , Berlusconi's t elevision group, has st at ed t hat it uses t he same crit eria as t he public
(st at e-owned) t elevision RAI in assigning a proper visibilit y t o all t he most import ant polit ical
part ies and movement s (t he so-called 'Par Condicio') – which has been since oft en
disproved.[269][270] In March 2006, on t he t elevision channel Rai Tre, in a t elevision int erview
wit h Lucia Annunziat a during her t alk show, In 1/2 h, he st ormed out of t he st udio because of
a disagreement wit h t he host regarding t he economic consequences of his government .[271]
In November 2007, allegat ions of news manipulat ion caused t he depart ure from RAI of
Berlusconi's personal assist ant .[272]
Synthesis of Freedom House annual data related to Italy about the freedom of press reports from 1980 to 2013
Enrico Ment ana, t he news anchor long seen as a guarant or of Canale 5's independence, walked
out in April 2008, saying t hat he no longer felt "at home in a group t hat seems like an elect oral
campaign commit t ee".[273]
On 24 June 2009, Berlusconi during t he Confindust ria young members congress in Sant a
Margherit a Ligure, It aly has invit ed t he advert isers t o int errupt or boycot t t he advert ising
cont ract s wit h t he magazines and newspapers published by Gruppo Edit oriale L'Espresso,[274]
in part icular la Repubblica and t he newsmagazine L'espresso, calling t he publishing group
"shameless",[274] claiming t hat it was fuelling t he economic crisis by discussing it ext ensively
and accusing it of making a "subversive at t ack" against him.[275] The publishing group
announced it would begin legal proceedings against Berlusconi, given t he "criminal and civil
relevance" of his remarks.[275]
On 12 Oct ober 2009, Berlusconi during t he Confindust ria Monza and Brianza members'
congress, again invit ed t he indust rialist s present t o join a "widespread rebellion" against a
"newspaper t hat hadn't any limit s in discredit ing t he government and t he count ry and
indoct rinat ing foreign newspapers".[276]
In Oct ober 2009, Report ers Wit hout Borders secret ary-general Jean-François Julliard
declared t hat Berlusconi "is on t he verge of being added t o our list of Predat ors of Press
Freedom", which would be a first for a European leader. He also added t hat It aly will probably
be ranked last in t he European Union in t he upcoming edit ion of t he RWB press freedom
index.[277]
The Economist
One of Berlusconi's st rongest crit ics in t he media out side It aly is t he Brit ish weekly The
Economist (nicknamed "The Ecommunist" by Berlusconi, despit e t he magazine's associat ion
wit h market liberalism),[278] which in it s issue of 26 April 2001 carried a t it le on it s front cover,
'Why Silvio Berlusconi is unfit t o lead It aly'.[279] The war of words bet ween Berlusconi and The
Economist has gained not oriet y, wit h Berlusconi t aking t he publicat ion t o court in Rome and
The Economist publishing let t ers against him.[280] The magazine claimed t hat t he
document at ion cont ained in it s art icle proves t hat Berlusconi is 'unfit ' for office [281] because
of his numerous conflict s of int erest . Berlusconi claimed t he art icle cont ained "a series of old
accusat ions" t hat was an "insult t o t rut h and int elligence".
According t o The Economist's findings, Berlusconi, while Prime Minist er of It aly, ret ained in
effect ive cont rol of 90% of all nat ional t elevision broadcast ing. This figure included st at ions
he owns direct ly as well as t hose over which he had indirect cont rol by dint of his posit ion as
Prime Minist er and his abilit y t o influence t he choice of t he management bodies of t hese
st at ions. The Economist has also claimed t hat t he It alian Prime Minist er is corrupt and selfserving. A key journalist for The Economist, David Lane, has set out many of t hese charges in
his book Berlusconi's Shadow.[282]
Lane point s out t hat Berlusconi has not defended himself in court against t he main charges,
but has relied upon polit ical and legal manipulat ions, most not ably by changing t he st at ut e of
limit at ion t o prevent charges being complet ed in t he first place. To publicly prove t he t rut h
of t he document ed accusat ions cont ained in t heir art icles, t he magazine has publicly
challenged Berlusconi t o sue The Economist for libel. Berlusconi did so,[283] losing versus The
Economist, and being charged for all t he t rial cost s on 5 Sept ember 2008, when t he Court in
Milan issued a judgment reject ing all Mr Berlusconi's claims and sent enced him t o
compensat e for The Economist's legal expenses.
In June 2011, The Economist published a st rong art icle dealing wit h Mr. Berlusconi, t it led "The
man who screwed an ent ire count ry".[284]
Legislative changes
The strong riots during the 27th G8 summit in Genoa, between Italian police and anti-globalization movement, which
caused the death of two protesters
On some occasions, laws passed by t he Berlusconi administ rat ion have effect ively delayed
ongoing t rials involving him. For example, t he law reducing punishment for all cases of false
account ing and t he law on legitimate suspicion, which allowed defendant s t o request t heir
cases t o be moved t o anot her court if t hey believe t hat t he local judges are biased against
t hem. Because of t hese legislat ive act ions, polit ical opponent s accuse Berlusconi of passing
t hese laws for t he purpose of prot ect ing himself from legal charges. La Repubblica, for
example, sust ained t hat Berlusconi passed 17 different laws which have advant aged
himself.[285] Berlusconi and his allies, on t he ot her hand, maint ain t hat such laws are consist ent
wit h everyone's right t o a rapid and just t rial, and wit h t he principle of "presumpt ion of
innocence" (garantismo); furt hermore, t hey claim t hat Berlusconi is being subject ed t o a
polit ical "wit ch hunt ", orchest rat ed by cert ain (allegedly left -wing) judges.
Berlusconi and his government quarrelled wit h t he It alian judiciary oft en. His administ rat ion
at t empt ed t o pass a judicial reform int ended t o limit t he flexibilit y of judges and magist rat es
in t heir decision-making. Crit ics said it would inst ead limit t he magist racy's independence by
de facto subject ing t he judiciary t o t he execut ive's cont rol. The reform was met by almost
unanimous dissent from t he It alian judges, but was passed by t he It alian parliament in
December 2004. It was vet oed by t he It alian President , Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
During t he night hours bet ween 5 and 6 March 2010, t he Berlusconi-led It alian government
passed a decree "int erpret ing" t he elect oral law t o let t he PDL candidat e run for governor in
Lazio aft er she had failed t o properly regist er for t he elect ions. The It alian Const it ut ion
st at es t hat elect oral procedures can only be changed in Parliament , and must not be
changed by government al decree. It aly's president , whose endorsement of t he decree was
required by law, said t hat t he measure t aken by t he government may not violat e t he
Const it ut ion.[286][287]
Accusations of links to the Mafia
Berlusconi, to solve his problems, has to solve ours.
— Mafia boss Giuseppe Guttadauro in a wiretapped
conversation.[288]
Berlusconi has never been t ried on charges relat ing t o t he Cosa Nostra, alt hough several Mafia
t urncoat s have st at ed t hat Berlusconi had connect ions wit h t he Sicilian criminal associat ion.
The claims arise most ly from t he hiring of Vit t orio Mangano, who was accused of being a
mafioso, as a gardener and st able-man at Berlusconi's Villa San Mart ino in Arcore, a small t own
near Milan. It was Berlusconi's friend Marcello Dell'Ut ri who int roduced Mangano t o Berlusconi
in 1973.[289][290] Berlusconi denied any t ies t o t he Mafia. Marcello Dell'Ut ri even st at ed t hat
t he Mafia did not exist at all.
In 2004, Dell'Ut ri, co-founder of Forza It alia, was sent enced t o nine years by a Palermo court
on charge of "ext ernal associat ion t o t he Mafia",[290][291] a sent ence describing Dell'Ut ri as a
mediat or bet ween t he economic int erest s of Berlusconi and members of t he criminal
organisat ion. Berlusconi refused t o comment on t he sent ence. In 2010, Palermo's appeals
court cut t he sent ence t o seven years but fully confirmed Dell'Ut ri's role as a link bet ween
Berlusconi and t he Mafia unt il 1992.[292]
In 1996, a Mafia informer, Salvat ore Cancemi, declared t hat Berlusconi and Dell'Ut ri were in
direct cont act wit h Salvat ore Riina, head of t he Sicilian Mafia in t he 1980s and 1990s.
Cancemi disclosed t hat Fininvest , t hrough Marcello Dell'Ut ri and mafioso Vit t orio Mangano,
had paid Cosa Nost ra 200 million lire (bet ween 100,000 and 200,000 of t oday's euro) annually.
The alleged cont act s, according t o Cancemi, were t o lead t o legislat ion favourable t o Cosa
Nost ra, in part icular reforming t he harsh 41-bis prison regime. The underlying premise was t hat
Cosa Nost ra would support Berlusconi's Forza It alia part y in ret urn for polit ical favours.[293]
Aft er a t wo-year invest igat ion, magist rat es closed t he inquiry wit hout charges. They did not
find evidence t o corroborat e Cancemi's allegat ions. Similarly, a t wo-year invest igat ion, also
launched on evidence from Cancemi, int o Berlusconi's alleged associat ion wit h t he Mafia was
closed in 1996.[289]
Marcello Dell'Utri
According t o yet anot her Mafia t urncoat , Ant onino Giuffrè – arrest ed on 16 April 2002 – t he
Mafia t urned t o Berlusconi's Forza It alia part y t o look aft er t he Mafia's int erest s, aft er t he
decline in t he early 1990s of t he ruling Christ ian Democrat ic part y, whose leaders in Sicily
looked aft er t he Mafia's int erest s in Rome. The Mafia's fall out wit h t he Christ ian Democrat s
became clear when Salvo Lima was killed in March 1992. "The Lima murder marked t he end of
an era," Giuffrè t old t he court . "A new era opened wit h a new polit ical force on t he horizon
which provided t he guarant ees t hat t he Christ ian Democrat s were no longer able t o deliver.
To be clear, t hat part y was Forza It alia."[294] Dell'Ut ri was t he go-bet ween on a range of
legislat ive effort s t o ease pressure on mafiosi in exchange for elect oral support , according t o
Giuffrè. "Dell'Ut ri was very close t o Cosa Nost ra and a very good cont act point for
Berlusconi," he said.[295] Mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano t old Giuffrè t hat t hey "were in good
hands" wit h Dell'Ut ri, who was a "serious and t rust wort hy person". Provenzano st at ed t hat t he
Mafia's judicial problems would be resolved wit hin 10 years of 1992, t hanks t o t he
undert akings given by Forza It alia.[290][294]
Giuffrè also said t hat Berlusconi himself used t o be in t ouch wit h St efano Bont ade, a t op
Mafia boss, in t he mid-1970s. At t he t ime Berlusconi st ill was just a wealt hy real est at e
developer and st art ed his privat e t elevision empire. Bont ade visit ed Berlusconi's villa in Arcore
t hrough his cont act Vit t orio Mangano.[296] Berlusconi's lawyer dismissed Giuffrè's t est imony
as "false" and an at t empt t o discredit t he Prime Minist er and his part y. Giuffrè said t hat ot her
Mafia represent at ives who were in cont act wit h Berlusconi included t he Palermo Mafia
bosses Filippo Graviano and Giuseppe Graviano.[297] The Graviano brot hers allegedly dealt
direct ly wit h Berlusconi t hrough t he businessman Gianni Let t a, somewhere bet ween
Sept ember/Oct ober 1993. The alleged pact wit h t he Mafia fell apart in 2002. Cosa Nost ra
had achieved not hing.[298]
Dell'Ut ri's lawyer, Enrico Trant ino, dismissed Giuffrè's allegat ions as an "ant hology of hearsay".
He said Giuffrè had perpet uat ed t he t rend t hat every new t urncoat would at t ack Dell'Ut ri and
t he former Christ ian Democrat prime minist er Giulio Andreot t i t o earn money and judicial
privileges.[296]
In Oct ober 2009, Gaspare Spat uzza, a Mafioso t urncoat in 2008, has confirmed Giuffrè
st at ement s. Spat uzza t est ified t hat his boss Giuseppe Graviano had t old him in 1994, t hat
Berlusconi was bargaining wit h t he Mafia, concerning a polit ical-elect oral agreement bet ween
Cosa Nost ra and Berlusconi's Forza It alia. Spat uzza said Graviano disclosed t he informat ion t o
him during a conversat ion in a bar Graviano owned in t he upscale Via Venet o dist rict of t he
It alian capit al Rome. Dell'Ut ri was t he int ermediary, according t o Spat uzza. Dell'Ut ri has
dismissed Spat uzza's allegat ions as "nonsense". Berlusconi's lawyer and MP for t he PdL,
Niccolò Ghedini said t hat "t he st at ement s given by Spat uzza about prime minist er Berlusconi
are baseless and can be in no way verified."[299]
Remarks on Western civilisation and Islam
Berlusconi with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2005
Aft er t he 11 Sept ember 2001 at t acks in New York Cit y, Berlusconi said: "We must be aware
of t he superiorit y of our civilisat ion, a syst em t hat has guarant eed well-being, respect for
human right s and – in cont rast wit h Islamic count ries – respect for religious and polit ical
right s, a syst em t hat has as it s value underst anding of diversit y and t olerance."[300][301] This
declarat ion caused an uproar, not only in t he Arab and Muslim world, but also all around Europe,
including It aly.[302] Subsequent ly, Berlusconi t old t he press: "We are aware of t he crucial role
of moderat e Arab count ries... I am sorry t hat words t hat have been misunderst ood have
offended t he sensit ivit y of my Arab and Muslim friends."[303]
Right-to-die case
Aft er t he family of Eluana Englaro (who had been comat ose for 17 years) succeeded in having
her right t o die recognized by t he judges and get t ing doct ors t o st art t he process of allowing
her t o die in t he way est ablished by t he court , Berlusconi issued a decree t o st op t he doct or
from let t ing her die. St at ing t hat , "This is murder. I would be failing t o rescue her. I'm not a
Pont ius Pilat e". Berlusconi went on t o defend his decision by claiming t hat she was "in t he
condit ion t o have babies",[304] arguing t hat comat ose women were st ill subject t o
menst ruat ion.[305]
Anti-immigration laws
Berlusconi with other G8 leaders in 2010, Canada
During his long career as Prime Minist er, Berlusconi has had t o deal wit h massive immigrat ion
from t he coast of Nort h Africa. To limit illegal immigrat ion, t he Berlusconi's government
promulgat ed t he Bossi-Fini law in 2002. This law t ook t he name by t he leaders of t he t wo
right -wing allied part ies in Berlusconi's government coalit ion, Umbert o Bossi of Lega Nord and
Gianfranco Fini of Nat ional Alliance.[306]
The law provides t he expulsion, issued by t he Prefect of t he Province where an illegal foreign
immigrant is found, and is immediat ely performed wit h t he assist ance at t he border of t he
police. Illegal immigrant s wit hout valid ident it y document s, are t aken t o det ent ion cent ers,
set up by t he Turco-Napolitano law, t o be ident ified. The law provides for t he issuance of
residence permit s t o persons who provide proof of having a job for t heir maint enance budget .
To t his general rule you add t he special residence permit s and t hose in t he applicat ion of t he
right t o asylum.
The st andard allows t he repat riat ion t o t he count ry of origin on t he high seas, on t he basis of
bilat eral agreement s bet ween It aly and neighboring count ries, which commit t he police
forces of t heir respect ive count ries t o cooperat e in t he prevent ion of illegal immigrat ion. If
t he illegal immigrant ships dock on It alian soil, t he ident ificat ion of t hose ent it led t o polit ical
asylum and t he supply of medical t reat ment and care is undert aken by t he marine police
force. The law had been severely crit icised by t he cent re-left opposit ion.
In 2013, t he European Parliament asked It aly t o modify t he Bossi-Fini law because it was t oo
rest rict ive and severe.[307]
Jokes, gestures, and blunders
Berlusconi with the Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Berlusconi has developed a reput at ion for making gaffes or insensit ive remarks.[308]
On 2 July 2003, Berlusconi suggest ed t hat German Social democrat ic MEP Mart in Schulz,
who had crit icised his domest ic policies, should play a Nazi concent rat ion camp guard in a
film.[309] Berlusconi insist ed t hat he was joking, but accused Schulz and ot hers t o be "badwilling t ourist s of democracy". This incident caused a brief cooling of It aly's relat ionship wit h
Germany.[310]
Addressing t raders at t he New York St ock Exchange in Sept ember 2003, Berlusconi list ed a
series of reasons t o invest in It aly, t he first of which was t hat "we have t he most beaut iful
secret aries in t he world". This remark result ed in remonst rat ion among female members of
parliament , who t ook part in a one-day cross-part y prot est .[311] Berlusconi's list also included
t he claim t hat It aly had "fewer communist s, and t hose who are st ill here deny having been
one".[312]
In 2003, during an int erview wit h Nicholas Farrell, t hen edit or of The Spectator, Berlusconi
claimed t hat Mussolini "had been a benign dict at or who did not murder opponent s but sent
t hem 'on holiday' ".[165] In 2013, he ret urned t o calling Mussolini a good leader whose biggest
mist ake was signing up t o ext erminat e t he Jews.[168]
Berlusconi with U.S. president George W. Bush during a state dinner in honor of Berlusconi's visit to the White House
Berlusconi had made disparaging remarks about Finnish cuisine during negot iat ions t o decide
on t he locat ion of t he European Food Safet y Aut horit y in 2001. He caused furt her offence in
2005, when he claimed t hat during t he negot iat ions he had had t o "dust off his playboy
charms" t o persuade t he Finnish president , Tarja Halonen, t o concede t hat t he EFSA should
be based in Parma inst ead of Finland, and compared Finnish smoked reindeer unfavourably t o
culat ello. The It alian ambassador in Helsinki was summoned by t he Finnish foreign
minist er.[313] One of Berlusconi's minist ers lat er 'explained' t he comment by saying t hat
"anyone who had seen a pict ure of Halonen must have been aware t hat he had been joking".
Halonen t ook t he incident in good humour, ret ort ing t hat Berlusconi had "overest imat ed his
persuasion skills".[314] The Finnish pizza chain Kot ipizza responded by launching a variet y of
pizza called Pizza Berlusconi, using smoked reindeer as t he t opping. The pizza won first prize
in America's Plat e Int ernat ional pizza cont est in March 2008.[315][316]
In March 2006, Berlusconi alleged t hat Chinese communist s under Mao Zedong had "boiled
[children] t o fert ilise t he fields".[317] His opponent Romano Prodi crit icised Berlusconi for
offending t he Chinese people and called his comment s 'unt hinkable'.[318]
Berlusconi salutes the crowd on the EPP summit in 2009
In t he run-up t o t he 2008 It alian general elect ion, Berlusconi was accused of sexism for
saying t hat female polit icians from t he right were "more beaut iful" and t hat "t he left has no
t ast e, even when it comes t o women".[319] In 2008 Berlusconi crit icised t he composit ion of
t he Council of Minist ers of t he Spanish Government as being t oo 'pink' by virt ue of t he fact
t hat it had (once t he President of t he Council, José Luis Rodríguez Zapat ero, is count ed) an
equal number of men and women. He also st at ed t hat he doubt ed t hat such a composit ion
would be possible in It aly given t he "prevalence of men" in It alian polit ics.[320]
Also in 2008, Berlusconi caused cont roversy at a joint press conference wit h Russian
president Vladimir Put in. When a journalist from t he Russian paper Nezavisimaya Gazet a asked
a quest ion about Mr. Put in's personal relat ionships, Berlusconi made a gest ure t owards t he
journalist imit at ing a gunman shoot ing.[321][322]
On 6 November 2008, t wo days aft er Barack Obama was elect ed t he first black US president ,
Berlusconi referred t o Obama as "young, handsome and even t anned":[323][324][325] On 26 March
2009 he said "I'm paler [t han Mr. Obama], because it 's been so long since I went sunbat hing.
He's more handsome, younger and t aller."[326]
On 24 January 2009, Berlusconi announced his aim t o increase t he numbers of milit ary
pat rolling t he It alian cit ies from 3,000 t o 30,000 t o crack down on what he called an "evil
army" of criminals. Responding t o a female journalist who asked him if t his t enfold increase in
pat rolling soldiers would be enough t o secure It alian women from being raped, he said: "We
could not field a big enough force t o avoid t his risk [of rape]. We would need as many soldiers
as beaut iful women and I don't t hink t hat would be possible, because our women are so
beaut iful." Opposit ion leaders called t he remarks insensit ive and in bad t ast e. Berlusconi
ret ort ed t hat he had merely want ed t o compliment It alian women. Ot her crit ics accused him
of creat ing a police st at e.[327]
Berlusconi smiles with U.S. president George W. Bush at the NATO headquarters in Brussels
Two days aft er t he 2009 L'Aquila eart hquake, Berlusconi suggest ed t hat people left
homeless should view t heir experience as a camping weekend.[328]
Subsequent ly, at a t ent camp on t he out skirt s of L'Aquila housing some of t he more t han
30,000 people who lost t heir homes during t he 2009 eart hquake he said t o an African priest :
"you have a nice t an."[329]
In Oct ober 2010, Berlusconi was chast ised by t he Vat ican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano
aft er he was filmed t elling "offensive and deplorable jokes", including one whose punchline
was similar t o one of t he gravest blasphemies in t he It alian language. It was also revealed he
had made anot her ant isemit ic joke a few days previously. Berlusconi responded t o t he
allegat ions by saying t he jokes were "neit her an offence nor a sin, but merely a laugh".[330]
On 1 November 2010, aft er once again being accused of involvement in juvenile prost it ut ion,
he suggest ed t hat an audience at t he Milan t rade fair should st op reading newspapers: "Don't
read newspapers any more because t hey deceive you. [...] I am a man who works hard all day
long and if somet imes I look at some good-looking girl, it 's bet t er t o be fond of pret t y girls
t han t o be gay".[331] The remarks were immediat ely condemned by Arcigay, It aly's main gay
right s organisat ion.[332]
On 13 July 2011, according t o a leaked t elephone surveillance t ranscript , Berlusconi t old his
presumed blackmailer Valt er Lavit ola: "The only t hing t hey can say about me is t hat I screw
around [...] Now t hey're spying on me, cont rolling my phone calls. I don't give a fuck. In a few
mont hs [...] I'll be leaving t his shit count ry t hat makes me sick."[333]
Berlusconi jokes with the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in 2010
On 27 January 2013, on t he occasion of t he Holocaust Remembrance Day, Berlusconi said t he
It alian fascist dict at or Benit o Mussolini, except for passing ant i-Jewish laws in 1938, only had
done "good t hings" for It aly; and also said Mussolini from a st rat egic point of view did t he
right t hing in siding wit h Adolf Hit ler during World War II, because Hit ler at t he point of t ime
when t he alliance was made had appeared t o be winning t he war.[334]
Friendship with Bettino Craxi
Berlusconi's career as an ent repreneur is also oft en quest ioned by his det ract ors. The
allegat ions made against him generally include suspicions about t he ext remely rapid increase
of his act ivit y in t he const ruct ion indust ry in t he years 1961–63, hint ing at t he possibilit y t hat
in t hose years he received money from unknown and possibly illegal sources. These
accusat ions are regarded by Berlusconi and his support ers as empt y slander, t rying t o
undermine Berlusconi's reput at ion as a self-made man. Also frequent ly cit ed by opponent s
are event s dat ing t o t he 1980s, including supposed "exchanges of favours" bet ween
Berlusconi and Bet t ino Craxi, t he former Socialist prime minist er and leader of t he It alian
Socialist Part y convict ed in 1994, for various corrupt ion charges. The Milan magist rat es who
indict ed and successfully convict ed Mr. Craxi in t heir "Clean Hands" invest igat ion laid bare an
ent renched syst em in which businessmen paid hundreds of millions of dollars t o polit ical
part ies or individual polit icians in exchange for sweet heart deals wit h It alian st at e companies
and t he government it self.[335] Berlusconi acknowledges a personal friendship wit h Craxi.
Freedom Army
On 28 May 2013, Berlusconi and his ent ourage launched an online init iat ive which consist ed in
t he recruit ment of volunt eers, who are available t o defend Berlusconi from t he convict ions of
Milan's prosecut ors, who are dealing wit h his t rials,[336] and who, Berlusconi oft en accused of
being communist s and ant i-democrat ic.[337]
Simone Furlan, t he creat or of t he Freedom Army said in an int erview: "There comes a t ime in
life, when you realize t hat fight ing for an ideal is no longer a choice but an obligat ion. We civil
societ y we were helpless spect at ors of t he "War of t he Twent y Years" which saw Berlusconi
fight and defend against slanderous accusat ions of all kinds, t he result of a judicial
persecut ion wit hout precedent in hist ory".[338]
This init iat ive, launched as Freedom Army, has been immediat ely nicknamed Silvio's Army by
t he media, and it was severely condemned, by t he Democrat ic Part y, t he Five St ar Movement
and Left Ecology Freedom.[339]
Wiretaps and accusations of corruption
In December 2007, t he audio recording of a phone call bet ween Berlusconi, t hen leader of t he
opposit ion, and Agost ino Saccà (general direct or of RAI) were published by t he magazine
L'espresso and caused a scandal in t he media.[340]
The wiret ap was part of an invest igat ion by t he Public Prosecut or Office of Naples, where
Berlusconi was invest igat ed for corrupt ion.[341]
In t he phone call, Saccà expresses words of impassioned polit ical support t o Berlusconi and
crit icises t he behaviour of Berlusconi's allies. Berlusconi urges Saccà t o broadcast a t elefilm
series which was st rongly advocat ed by his ally Umbert o Bossi. Saccà lament s t hat many
people have spread rumours on t his agreement causing problems t o him. Then Berlusconi asks
Saccà t o find a job in RAI for a young woman explicit ly t elling him t hat t his woman would
serve as an asset in a secret exchange wit h a senat or of t he majorit y who would help him t o
cause Prodi, wit h his administ rat ion, t o fall.[342] Aft er t he publicat ion of t hese wiret aps,
Berlusconi has been accused by ot her polit icians and by some journalist s of polit ical
corrupt ion t hrough t he exploit at ion of prost it ut ion. Berlusconi said, in his own defence: "In t he
ent ert ainment world everybody knows t hat , in cert ain sit uat ions in RAI TV you work only if
you prost it ut e yourself or if you are left ist . I have int ervened on behalf of some personalit ies
who are not left ist s and have been complet ely set apart by RAI TV."[343] In t he US St at e
Depart ment 's 2011 Trafficking in Persons report aut horized by Secret ary of St at e Hillary
Clint on Mr. Berlusconi was explicit ly named as a person involved in t he "commercial sexual
exploit at ion of a Moroccan child".[344][345]
Divorce and allegations of sexual misconduct
Noemi Letizia at the 2009 Venice Film Festival
At t he end of April 2009, Berlusconi's wife Veronica Lario, who would divorce him several years
lat er, wrot e an open let t er expressing her anger at Berlusconi's choice of young, at t ract ive
female candidat es—some wit h lit t le or no polit ical experience—t o represent t he part y in t he
2009 European Parliament elect ions. Berlusconi demanded a public apology, claiming t hat for
t he t hird t ime his wife had "done t his t o me in t he middle of an elect ion campaign", and st at ed
t hat t here was lit t le prospect of his marriage cont inuing.[346] On 3 May, Lario announced she
was filing for divorce.[347][348] She claimed t hat Berlusconi had not at t ended his own sons'
18t h birt hday part ies, and t hat she "cannot remain wit h a man who consort s wit h minors" and
"is not well".[349][350]
Noemi Let izia, t he girl in quest ion, gave int erviews t o t he It alian press, revealing t hat she calls
Berlusconi "papi" ("daddy"), t hat t hey oft en spent t ime t oget her in t he past , and t hat
Berlusconi would t ake care of her career as showgirl or polit ician, whichever she opt ed t o
pursue.[351] Berlusconi claimed t hat he knew Let izia only t hrough her fat her and t hat he never
met her alone wit hout her parent s.[352]
On 14 May, la Repubblica published an art icle alleging many inconsist encies in Berlusconi's
st ory and asked him t o answer t en quest ions t o clarify t he sit uat ion.[352][353]
Ten days lat er, Let izia's ex-boyfriend, Luigi Flaminio, claimed t hat Berlusconi had cont act ed
Let izia personally in Oct ober 2008 and said she had spent a week wit hout her parent s at
Berlusconi's Sardinian villa around New Year's Eve 2009,[354] a fact confirmed lat er by her
mot her.[355] On 28 May 2009, Berlusconi said t hat he had never had "spicy" relat ions wit h
Let izia, and said t hat if any such t hing had occurred, he would have resigned immediat ely.[356]
On 17 June 2009, Pat rizia D'Addario, a 42-year-old escort and ret ired act ress[357] from Bari,
It aly, claimed t hat she had been recruit ed t wice t o spend t he evening wit h Berlusconi.[358]
Berlusconi denied any knowledge of D'Addario being a paid escort : "I have never paid a
woman... I have never underst ood what sat isfact ion t here is if t he pleasure of conquest is
absent ".[359] He also accused an unspecified person of manoeuvring and bribing D'Addario.[360]
On 26 June 2009, t he "t en quest ions" t o Berlusconi were reformulat ed by la Repubblica
newspaper, and subsequent ly republished mult iple t imes.[361] On 28 August 2009, Berlusconi
sued Gruppo Edit oriale L'Espresso, t he owner company of t he newspaper, and classified t he
t en quest ions as "defamat ory" and "rhet orical".[362]
Berlusconi's lifest yle has raised eyebrows in Cat holic circles, wit h vigorous crit icism being
expressed in part icular by t he newspaper Avvenire, owned by t he Conferenza Episcopale
It aliana (Conference of It alian Bishops). This was followed by t he publicat ion in t he
newspaper il Giornale (owned by t he Berlusconi family) of det ails wit h regard t o legal
proceedings against t he edit or of Avvenire, Dino Boffo, which seemed t o implicat e him for a
harassment case against t he wife of his ex-part ner.[363] Dino Boffo has always declared t he
det ails of t he proceedings t o be false, alt hough he has not denied t he basic premise.[364]
Aft er a period of t ense exchanges and polemics, on 3 Sept ember 2009, Boffo resigned from
his edit orial posit ion[365][366] and t he assist ant edit or Marco Tarquinio became edit or ad
interim.[367]
On 22 Sept ember 2009, aft er a press conference, Berlusconi declared t hat he had asked his
minist ers not t o respond anymore t o quest ions regarding "gossip". He st at ed also t hat t he
It alian press should t alk only about t he "successes" of It alian Government in int ernal and
foreign policies, adding also t hat t he press now will be able only t o ask quest ions relat ing t o
his administ rat ion and not t o gossip.[368]
During a cont est ed[369][370] episode of AnnoZero on 1 Oct ober 2009, t he journalist and
present er Michele Sant oro int erviewed Pat rizia D'Addario.[371] She st at ed she was cont act ed
by Giampaolo Tarant ini – a businessman from Bari – who already knew her and request ed her
presence at Palazzo Grazioli wit h "t he President ".[372] D'Addario also st at ed t hat Berlusconi
knew t hat she was a paid escort .[373]
Shots of Porto Rotondo
The at t ent ion of t he newspapers was lat er at t ract ed by numerous phot os t hat t he
phot ographer Ant onello Zappadu had t aken on several occasions: some document a vacat ion
in May 2008 in Berlusconi's summer residence in Port o Rot ondo t he t hen Prime Minist er of
t he Czech Republic Mirek Topolánek appears in an Adamic dress:[374] and during t he part y
young girls in bikinis or t opless.[375] On 5 June 2009, t he Spanish newspaper El País published
5 of t he 700 phot os of t he part y.[376] The Rome Prosecut or's Office, on t he recommendat ion
of Berlusconi, seized t he phot ographic mat erial for violat ion of privacy.
Rubygate
Berlusconi in 2010
In November 2010, 17-year-old Moroccan belly dancer and alleged prost it ut e Karima El
Mahroug (bet t er known as "Ruby Rubacuori") claimed t o have been given $10,000 by
Berlusconi at part ies at his privat e villas. The girl t old prosecut ors in Milan t hat t hese event s
were like orgies where Berlusconi and 20 young women performed an African-st yle rit ual
known as t he "bunga bunga" in t he nude.[377][378]
It was also found out t hat , on 27 May 2010, El Mahroug had been arrest ed for t heft by t he
Milan police but (being st ill a minor) she was direct ed t o a shelt er for juvenile offenders. Aft er
a couple of hours, while she was being quest ioned, Berlusconi, who was at t he t ime in Paris,
called t he head of t he police in Milan and pressured for her release, claiming t he girl was
relat ed t o Hosni Mubarak, t hen President of Egypt , and t hat t o avoid a diplomat ic crisis, she
was t o be brought t o t he cust ody of Nicole Minet t i. Following repeat ed t elephone calls by
Berlusconi t o t he police aut horit ies, El Mahroug was event ually released and ent rust ed t o
Minet t i's care.[379]
The invest igat ion of Berlusconi for ext ort ion (concussione) and child prost it ut ion regarding
Karima El Mahroug has been referred t o as "Rubygat e".[380]
MP Gaet ano Pecorella proposed t o lower t he age of majorit y in It aly t o solve t he case.[381]
Minet t i was known for previous associat ions wit h Berlusconi, having danced for Colorado Cafe,
a show on one of Berlusconi's TV channels, and on Scorie, an It alian version of Candid Camera.
In November 2009 she became a dent al hygienist , and short ly aft erward t reat ed Berlusconi
for t wo broken t eet h and facial injuries aft er he was at t acked wit h a marble st at ue at a
polit ical rally.[382][383] In February 2010, she was select ed as one of t he candidat es
represent ing Berlusconi's The People of Freedom part y, despit e her lack of any polit ical
experience, and was seat ed on t he Regional Council of Lombardy t he following mont h.[384][385]
The Guardian report ed t hat according t o a series of media report s in Oct ober 2010,
Berlusconi had met El Mahroug, t hen 17, t hrough Nicole Minet t i. Mahroug insist ed t hat she
had not slept wit h t he t hen 74-year-old prime minist er. She t old It alian newspapers t hat she
merely at t ended dinner at his mansion near Milan. El Mahroug said she sat next t o Berlusconi,
who lat er t ook her upst airs and gave her an envelope cont aining €7,000. She said he also gave
her jewellery.[384]
Berlusconi came under fire for report edly spending $1.8 million in st at e funds from RAI
Cinema t o furt her t he career of a largely unknown Bulgarian act ress, Michelle Bonev. The fact
t hat t his coincided wit h severe cut s being made t o t he count ry's art s budget provoked a
st rong react ion from t he public.[386]
In January 2011, Berlusconi was placed under criminal invest igat ion relat ing t o El Mahroug for
allegedly having sex wit h an underage prost it ut e and for abuse of office relat ing t o her
release from det ent ion.[387] Berlusconi's lawyers were quick t o deny t he allegat ions as "absurd
and wit hout foundat ion" and called t he invest igat ion a "serious int erference wit h t he privat e
life of t he prime minist er wit hout precedent in t he judicial hist ory of t he count ry".[388]
On 15 February 2011, a judge indict ed Berlusconi t o st and t rial on charges carrying up t o 15
years in prison.[389][390] Paying for sex wit h a minor in It aly is punished wit hin a range of six
mont hs t o t hree years imprisonment , while t he crime of malfeasance in office (It :
concussione) is more severely punished, from four years t o t welve years imprisonment , as it is
considered a t ype of ext ort ion commit t ed by a public officer.
The fast -t rack t rial opened on 6 April and was adjourned unt il 31 May. El Mahroug's lawyer said
t hat Mahroug would not be at t aching herself t o t he case as a civil complainant and denies
t hat she ever made herself available for money. Anot her alleged vict im, Giorgia Iafrat e, also
decided not t o be a part y t o t he case.[213] In January 2013, judges reject ed an applicat ion
from Berlusconi's lawyers t o have t he t rial adjourned so t hat it would not int erfere wit h It aly's
2013 general elect ion in which Berlusconi part icipat ed.[391]
On 24 June 2013, Berlusconi was found guilt y of paying for sex wit h an underage prost it ut e
and of abusing his office.[392] He was sent enced t o seven years in prison, one more year t han
had been request ed by t he prosecut ion, and banned from public office for life.[392] In t he t rial,
t he prosecut ion claimed t hat Berlusconi had paid over 4.5 million euros in t ot al for El
Mahroug's services. Berlusconi appealed t he sent ence [393][392] and his convict ion was quashed
a year lat er, on 18 July 2014.[394]
On 1 March 2019, t he Moroccan model Imane Fadil, who was one of t he main wit nesses in t he
process, died in st range circumst ances, allegedly killed by radioact ive poisoning.[395][396][397]
In 2020, Wondery released a podcast about Berlusconi's rise and fall ent it led Bunga Bunga
host ed by comedienne Whit ney Cummings.[398][399]
Panama Papers
In April 2016, t he Panama Papers scandal broke out ; it was a leaked set of 11.5 million
confident ial document s t hat provide det ailed informat ion about more t han 214,000 offshore
companies list ed by t he Panamanian corporat e service provider Mossack Fonseca, including
t he ident it ies of shareholders and direct ors of t he companies. The document s show how
wealt hy individuals, including public officials, hid t heir asset s from public scrut iny. Berlusconi
was cit ed in t he list , along wit h his long-t ime part ner at AC Milan, Adriano Galliani.[400]
Health
Assault at rally
On 13 December 2009, Berlusconi was hit in t he face wit h an alabast er[401] st at uet t e of Milan
Cat hedral aft er a rally in Milan's Piazza del Duomo. As Berlusconi was shaking hands wit h t he
public, a man in t he crowd st epped forward and launched t he st at uet t e at him. The assailant
was subsequent ly det ained and ident ified as Massimo Tart aglia, a 42-year-old surveyor wit h a
hist ory of ment al illness but no criminal record, living in t he out skirt s of Milan.[402][403]
According t o a let t er released t o t he It alian news agency ANSA, Tart aglia has apologised for
t he at t ack, writ ing: "I don't recognise myself", and adding t hat he had "act ed alone [wit h no]
form of milit ancy or polit ical affiliat ion". Berlusconi suffered facial injuries, a broken nose and
t wo broken t eet h; he was subsequent ly hospit alised.[404] It alian president Giorgio Napolit ano
and polit icians from all part ies in It aly condemned t he at t ack.
In t he night of 15–16 December, a 26-year-old man was st opped by police and Berlusconi's
bodyguards while t rying t o gain access t o Berlusconi's hospit al room. A search revealed t hat
he carried no weapons, alt hough t hree hockey st icks and t wo knives were lat er found in his
car. The suspect was known t o have a hist ory of ment al illness and mandat ory t reat ment in
ment al inst it ut ions.[405]
Berlusconi was discharged from t he hospit al on 17 December 2009.[406]
Heart problems
On 7 June 2016, aft er t he campaign for t he local elect ions, Berlusconi was hospit alized t o
t he San Raffaele Hospit al in Milan because of heart problems.[407] Aft er t wo days, on 9 June,
his personal doct or Albert o Zangrillo announced t hat t he st roke could have killed him and he
must have a heart surgery t o replace a defect ive aort ic valve.[408]
COVID-19
On 2 Sept ember 2020, amid t he worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Berlusconi t est ed posit ive
for COVID-19. He had had cont act wit h businessman Flavio Briat ore, who had been
hospit alized aft er cont ract ing t he virus,[409] and wit h his daught er Barbara and his son Luigi,
who had also t est ed posit ive.[410] The following day, Berlusconi announced he was well and
cont inuing t o work; on t he next day, 3 Sept ember, he was admit t ed t o t he San Raffaele
Hospit al in Milan wit h bilat eral pneumonia.[411][410][412] Professor Albert o Zangrillo, head of
int ensive care at San Raffaele Hospit al, said on 11 Sept ember 2020 t hat Berlusconi was
admit t ed wit h a very high and dangerous viral load, but t hat he was improving and his response
t o t he disease had been "opt imal".[413][414]
On 14 Sept ember, he was discharged from t he hospit al. Berlusconi described t he COVID-19
as "t he most dangerous and fright ening experience" of his lifet ime.[415][416]
In May 2021, he was once again hospit alized due t o COVID-19 long-t erm consequences.[417]
Personal fortune
Villa San Martino, Arcore, the personal residence of Berlusconi
In 2012, Forbes magazine report ed t hat Berlusconi was It aly's sixt h richest man, wit h a net
wort h of $5.9 billion. He holds significant asset s in t elevision, newspaper, publishing, cinema,
finance, banking, insurance, and sport s.[418]
Berlusconi's main company, Mediaset , operat es t hree nat ional t elevision channels, which in
t ot al cover half of t he nat ional t elevision sect or; and Publitalia (it ), t he leading It alian
advert ising and publicit y agency. Berlusconi also owns a cont rolling st ake in Arnoldo
Mondadori Edit ore, t he largest It alian publishing house, whose publicat ions include Panorama,
one of t he count ry's most popular news magazines. His brot her, Paolo Berlusconi, owns and
operat es il Giornale, a cent re-right newspaper which provides a pro-Berlusconi slant on It alian
polit ics. Il Foglio, one of t he most influent ial It alian right -wing newspapers, is part ially owned
by his former wife, Veronica Lario. Aft er Lario sold some of her ownership in 2010, Paolo
Berlusconi acquired a majorit y int erest in t he newspaper. He founded and is t he major
shareholder of Fininvest , which is among t he largest privat e companies in It aly;[419] it operat es
in media and finance. Wit h Ennio Doris he founded Mediolanum, one of t he count ry's biggest
banking and insurance groups. He has int erest s in cinema and home video dist ribut ion (Medusa
Film and Pent a Film). He also owned t he foot ball club AC Milan from 1986 t o 2017,[39] and
current ly owns A.C. Monza (since 2018).
Electoral history
Election
House
Constituency
Party
Votes
Result
1994
Chamber of Deput ies
Lazio 1 – Rome Cent re
FI
34,354
Elected
1996
Chamber of Deput ies
Lombardy – Milan 1
FI
46,098
Elected
1999
European Parliament
Nort h-West It aly
FI
992,657
Elected
2001
Chamber of Deput ies
Lombardy – Milan 1
FI
42,098
Elected
2006
Chamber of Deput ies
Campania 1
FI
–[a]
Elected
2008
Chamber of Deput ies
Molise
PdL –[a]
Elected
2013
Senat e of t he Republic Molise
PdL –[a]
Elected
2019
European Parliament
FI
Elected
Nort h-West It aly
a. Elected in a closed list proportional representation system.
First-past-the-post elections
187,612
1994 general election (C): Lazio 1 — Rome Centre
Candidate
Coalition
Votes
%
Silvio Berlusconi Pole of Good Government 34,354
46.3
Luigi Spavent a
29,914
40.1
9,566
12.8
593
0.8
Alliance of Progressives
Albert o Michelini Pact for It aly
Ot hers
Total
74,607 100.0
1996 general election (C): Lombardy — Milan 1
Candidate
Coalition
Votes
%
Silvio Berlusconi Pole for Freedoms 46,098
51.5
Michele Salvat i
The Olive Tree
32,464
36.3
Umbert o Bossi
Lega Nord
10,179
11.4
766
0.9
Ot hers
Total
89,507 100.0
2001 general election (C): Lombardy — Milan 1
Candidate
Coalition
Votes
%
Silvio Berlusconi House of Freedoms 42,098
53.7
Gianni Rivera
28,651
36.5
7,709
9.8
The Olive Tree
Ot hers
Total
78,458 100.0
Works by Silvio Berlusconi
More, Thomas. Silvio Berlusconi (unaut horized t ranslat ion by Luigi Firpo) (ed.). L'Utopia.[420]
Berlusconi, Silvio (2001). Una storia italiana. Mondadori.[421]
Pllumi, Zef (2013). Il sangue di Abele. Vivi per testimoniare (preface by Silvio Berlusconi).
Diana edizioni.
Honours and awards
It aly: Knight of t he Order of Merit for Labour (1977[422]–2014) Berlusconi volunt arily
resigned from t his order on 18 March 2014.[423]
Holy See: Knight Grand Cross of t he Order of Pius IX (2005)[424]
Poland: Knight Grand Cross of t he Order of Merit of t he Republic of Poland (2002)[425]
Lat via: Grand Officer of t he Order of t he Three St ars (2005)[426]
Libya: Recipient of t he Al-Fat eh Medal (2009)
Malt a: Honorary Companion of Honour of t he Nat ional Order of Merit (2004)[427]
Norway: Knight Grand Cross of t he Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (2001)
Romania: Knight Grand Cross of t he Order of t he St ar of Romania (2002)[428]
Saudi Arabia: Member 1st Class of t he Order of Abdulaziz al Saud (22 November
2009)[429]
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Knight Grand Cross of t he Sacred Milit ary Const ant inian
Order of Saint George
In film
Documentaries
Citizen Berlusconi – The Prime Minister and the Press, 2003
Viva Zapatero!, direct ed by Sabina Guzzant i, 2005
Quando c'era Silvio, document ary film direct ed by Beppe Cremagnani e Enrico Deaglio, 2005.
Feature films
Draquila - L'Italia che trema (direct ed by Sabina Guzzant i, Cannes Film Fest ival, 2010)
Videocracy (direct ed by Erik Gandini, 2009)[430]
"Bye Bye Berlusconi!/Buonanot t e Topolino"
Il Caimano (direct ed by Nanni Moret t i, 2006)
Shooting Silvio (direct ed by Berardo Carboni)
Citizen Berlusconi (direct ed by Andrea Cairola and Susan Gray)
Loro (direct ed by Paolo Sorrent ino, 2018)
See also
Berlusconism
Forbes list of billionaires (2011)
Policies of Silvio Berlusconi
References
1. Silvio Berlusconi (https://www.forbes.com/profile/silvio-berlusconi/?list=rtb/&sh=58babb903e8f) ,
Forbes
2. "Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010612/https://www.biography.com/peop
le/silvio-berlusconi-9209602) . Biography. Archived from the original (https://www.biography.com/
people/silvio-berlusconi-9209602)
on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
3. "Silvio Berlusconi is back on the Italian political scene. How did he get there?" (https://www.independ
ent.co.uk/news/world/europe/silvio-berlusconi-mep-european-elections-italy-forza-italia-league-a893
1186.html) . The Independent. 27 May 2019.
4. Silvio Berlusconi Premier Politico Cavaliere Pdl Milan Mediaset (http://digilander.libero.it/berluscon
i.web/) . Digilander.libero.it. Retrieved 4 August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2013
1029205127/http://digilander.libero.it/berlusconi.web/)
29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
5. "Forbes Silvio Berlusconi profile page" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140209113242/http://www.fo
rbes.com/profile/silvio-berlusconi/) . Forbes. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original (https://w
ww.forbes.com/profile/silvio-berlusconi/)
on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
6. "Billionaires 2019" (https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/) . Forbes.
7. "#12 Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121111021540/http://www.forbes.com/lists/
2009/20/power-09_Silvio-Berlusconi_9SKC.html) . Forbes. 11 November 2009. Archived from the
original (https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/20/power-09_Silvio-Berlusconi_9SKC.html)
on 11
November 2012.
8. "Berlusconi breaks away from Italy government after party ruptures" (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0131202232953/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/16/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE9AE15M
20131116) . Reuters. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/arti
cle/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE9AE15M20131116)
on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November
2013.
9. Parks, Tim (24 August 2013). "Holding Italy Hostage" (http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/201
3/aug/24/holding-italy-hostage/) . The New York Review of Books. Archived (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20131025180502/http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2013/aug/24/holding-italy-ho
stage/)
from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
10. Italy's Senate expels ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-2512811
5) , BBC, 27 November 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131130215623/http://ww
w.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25128115)
30 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
11. "Italian senators debate Berlusconi expulsion" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140418201323/htt
p://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24015130) . BBC News. 9 September 2013. Archived from
the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24015130)
on 18 April 2014. Retrieved
10 September 2013.
12. "Berlusconi vows to stay in politics as ban approaches" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131014123
638/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/18/us-italy-politics-berlusconi-idUSBRE98H0JK201
30918) . Reuters. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/article/
us-italy-politics-berlusconi-idUSBRE98H0JK20130918)
on 14 October 2013. Retrieved
18 September 2013.
13. "Blog | Sì, Berlusconi è un dittatore" (http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/07/20/si-berlusconi-e-un-di
ttatore/146713/) . Il Fatto Quotidiano. 20 July 2011.
14. Rame, Sergio (10 May 2015). "La Boschi insulta Berlusconi: "Ha esperienza da dittatore" " (http://ww
w.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/boschi-insulta-berlusconi-ha-esperienza-dda-dittatore-1126680.html) .
Il Giornale.
15. Severgnini, Beppe (15 November 2016). "Opinion | What a Trump America Can Learn from a
Berlusconi Italy" (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/opinion/what-a-trump-america-can-learn-fr
om-a-berlusconi-italy.html) . The New York Times.
16. "Bush: "Berlusconi un leader forte" Ma più tardi la Casa Bianca frena" (http://www.repubblica.it/200
6/b/sezioni/politica/versoelez29/inusafune/inusafune.html) . la Repubblica.
17. "Con Berlusconi debito e spese fuori controllo ma meno tasse" (https://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/201
2/02/01/con-berlusconi-debito-e-spese-fuori-controllo-ma-meno-tasse/3000/) . Linkiesta. 1
February 2012.
18. Francesco, Gian Maria De (15 April 2018). "Così il Cavaliere a Pratica di Mare mise d'accordo Stati
Uniti e Russia" (http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/cos-cavaliere-pratica-mare-mise-daccordo-stati
-uniti-e-1515539.html) . Il Giornale.
19. "il manifesto" (https://ilmanifesto.it/login) . il manifesto. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
20. Zitelli, Andrea. "Debito pubblico: il record assoluto è di Berlusconi" (http://www.valigiablu.it/cambiam
ento-climatico-sciopero-internazionale/) .
21. "Berlusconi all'attacco: "La libertà di stampa non è un diritto assoluto" " (http://www.lastampa.it/201
0/07/10/italia/berlusconi-allattacco-la-libert-di-stampa-non-un-diritto-assoluto-ljGEPEyRzR1XXGOp
WMessO/pagina.html) . La Stampa. 10 July 2010.
22. "Ruby ter: soldi, foto e minacce, così Berlusconi si è scoperto ricattabile" (http://milano.repubblica.it/
cronaca/2015/07/05/news/ruby_ter-118397077/) . la Repubblica. 5 July 2015.
23. Willey, David (2011). "The secret of Silvio Berlusconi's success" (https://web.archive.org/web/201402
07101509/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15629283) . BBC News. 12 November 2011.
Archived from the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15629283)
2014., BBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
on 7 February
24. "Biografia, Storia e Vita di Silvio Berlusconi, Imprenditore e Politico Italiano" (https://archive.today/20
130218202618/http://www.150681.it/silvio-berlusconi-imprenditore-e-politico-italiano/) . 150681.it.
Archived from the original (http://www.150681.it/silvio-berlusconi-imprenditore-e-politico-italiano/)
on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
25. "Silvio Berlusconi in pictures" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/887896
6/Silvio-Berlusconi-in-pictures.html) . The Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2011. Archived (https://gho
starchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/887
8966/Silvio-Berlusconi-in-pictures.html)
from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 18 April
2018. "A young Silvio Berlusconi is pictured singing on a cruise ship in the 1960s. Berlusconi was
born in Milan in 1936, and studied law in Milan, graduating in 1961. He occasionally performed as a
cruise ship crooner, and later recorded two albums."
26. Guarino, Mario. L'orgia del potere. Il Mulino. "[The author] claimed that Berlusconi avoided military
service because he was the first-born child in his family. However, this did not constitute reasonable
grounds for exemption"
27. Ginsborg, Paul (2005). Silvio Berlusconi: Television, Power And Patrimony (https://books.google.co
m/books?id=YTFIetz-CC8C&pg=PA25) . Verso. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-84467-541-8. Retrieved 24 June
2013.
28. "Berlusconi's wife to divorce him" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140116182353/http://news.bbc.c
o.uk/2/hi/europe/8031520.stm) . BBC News. 3 May 2009. Archived from the original (http://news.
bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8031520.stm)
on 16 January 2014.
29. "Silvio Berlusconi to pay ex-wife $50 million a year" (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2
012/12/28/berlusconi-lario-divorce/1795853/?sf8194263=1) . USA Today. 28 December 2012.
Retrieved 28 December 2012.
30. "Regrets and rancour as Berlusconi turns 80" (https://www.yahoo.com/news/berlusconi-80-regrets-f
ew-170238890.html) . Yahoo!.
31. "Berlusconi cuddles lambs in vegetarian Easter campaign" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/201
7/apr/10/silvio-berlusconi-vegetarian-easter-lambs-italian) . The Guardian. Reuters. 10 April 2017.
Retrieved 10 April 2017.
32. Carlin, John (19 January 2004). "Silvio Berlusconi: Roman emperor for the 21st century | World
news | The Observer" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130116133228/http://www.guardian.co.uk/w
orld/2004/jan/18/italy.features) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://www.t
heguardian.com/world/2004/jan/18/italy.features)
on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 27 October
2012.
33. Mastellarini, Gabriele (2003). Assalto alla stampa: Controllare i media per governare l'opinione
pubblica. Bari: Dedalo. pp. 159ff.
34. "Berlusconi- tv. Un impero nato per decreto-Craxi" (https://archive.today/20101215023228/http://w
ww.articolo21.info/499/editoriale/berlusconi-tv-un-impero-nato-per-decretocraxi.html)
(in Italian).
l'Unità. Archived from the original (http://www.articolo21.info/499/editoriale/berlusconi-tv-un-impero
-nato-per-decretocraxi.html)
on 15 December 2010.
35. "Berlusconi Buys Italian Distributor". Variety. 29 April 1987. pp. 39–40.
36. Altmeppen, Klaus-Dieter; Karmasin, Matthias (2003). Medien und Ökonomie (in German). VS Verlag.
p. 153. "Leo Kirch und Silvio Berlusconi setzten 1999 eine schon bewährte Zusammenarbeit fort,
also sie mit der Gründung des Gemeinschaftsunternehmens Epsilon Group auf die Entwicklung
eines europaweiten Rundfunkverbundes zielten"
37. Zampano, Giada (11 July 2011). "Court Fines Berlusconi's Fininvest" (https://www.wsj.com/articles/
SB10001424052702303365804576435290994415536) . The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved
10 September 2011.
38. "Comunicato Stampa – Milan: Fininvest firma preliminare di vendita con cordata cinese" (http://ww
w.fininvest.it/assets/press/it/CS_Fininvest-Milan_5.08.16.pdf)
[Press Release – Milan: Fininvest
signs preliminary selling agreement with Chinese group of investors] (PDF) . fininvest.it (in Italian).
Fininvest. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
39. "Official Berlusconi sells Milan" (http://www.football-italia.net/101063/official-berlusconi-sells-mila
n) . Football Italia. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
40. "Li: 'We'll bring Milan back' " (http://www.football-italia.net/101067/li-%E2%80%98well-bring-milan-bac
k%E2%80%99) . Football Italia. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
41. "Italy crisis: Silvio Berlusconi resigns as PM" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131128202636/http://
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15708729) . BBC News. 13 November 2011. Archived from the
original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15708729)
on 28 November 2013. BBC News
12 November 2011.
42. "Berlusconi says will run to become Italian PM for fifth time" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012121
2004424/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/berlusconi-says-run-become-italian-pm-fifth-time-135640799.
html) . Yahoo News. Archived from the original (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/berlusconi-says-run-bec
ome-italian-pm-fifth-time-135640799.html)
on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
43. "Berlo plans comeback as PM in 2013" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120715164706/http://times
ofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Berlo-plans-comeback-as-PM-in-2013/articleshow/1483445
2.cms) . The Times of India. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original (http://timesofindia.indiatime
s.com/world/europe/Berlo-plans-comeback-as-PM-in-2013/articleshow/14834452.cms)
on 15
July 2012.
44. "Silvio Berlusconi sentenced for tax fraud" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140207101452/http://w
ww.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20102215) . BBC News. 26 October 2012. Archived from the
original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20102215)
on 7 February 2014.
45. Vogt, Andrea (7 January 2013). "Silvio Berlusconi 'will not run for Italian prime minister' " (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20130918215225/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/
9785803/Silvio-Berlusconi-will-not-run-for-Italian-prime-minister.html) . The Daily Telegraph.
London. Archived from the original (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/
9785803/Silvio-Berlusconi-will-not-run-for-Italian-prime-minister.html)
on 18 September 2013.
Retrieved 5 February 2013.
46. Facts & Stories (http://www.i-italy.org/35892/letta-seeks-slim-and-sober-cabinet)
Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20130605005441/http://www.i-italy.org/35892/letta-seeks-slim-and-sobercabinet)
5 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. I-Italy (26 April 2013). Retrieved 4 August 2013.
47. Oxford Business Group (2008). The Report: Libya 2008. p. 17.
48. "Italy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140503012459/http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedo
m-press/2012/italy) . Freedom House. 24 April 2012. Archived from the original (https://www.freed
omhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/italy)
on 3 May 2014.
49. Popham, Peter (5 September 2006). "Prodi braces for fight to curb Berlusconi's media empire" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20091011083545/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/prodi
-braces-for-fight-to-curb-berlusconis-media-empire-414662.html) . The Independent. London.
Archived from the original (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/prodi-braces-for-figh
t-to-curb-berlusconis-media-empire-414662.html)
on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
50. "Opponents tell Berlusconi to quit over sex scandal" (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44567847) .
NBC News. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
51. Evgenia Peretz (with Federico Rampini) La Dolce Viagra, (https://www.vanityfair.com/politics/feature
s/2011/07/silvio-berlusconi-201107)
at Vanity Fair, July 2011 "I am forced to enter politics,
otherwise they will put me in prison." Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140414235103/htt
p://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2011/07/silvio-berlusconi-201107)
14 April 2014 at the
Wayback Machine
52. "As Italy Votes, Golden Career of Berlusconi Is at Crossroads" (https://web.archive.org/web/201309
21051738/http://courses.wcupa.edu/rbove/eco343/060compecon/Europe%20West/Italy/060330be
rlusc.txt) . The Wall Street Journal. 30 March 2006. Archived from the original (http://courses.wcu
pa.edu/rbove/eco343/060compecon/Europe%20West/Italy/060330berlusc.txt)
on 21 September
2013.
53. "Italian Election, The Prelude" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140222014325/http://www.theameric
anmag.com/article.php?article=385&p=2) . The American. 1 April 2006. Archived from the original
(http://www.theamericanmag.com/article.php?article=385&p=2)
on 22 February 2014.
54. Griffin, Roger (1996). "The 'Post-Fascism' of the Alleanza Nazionale: A Case Study in Ideological
Morphology". Journal of Political Ideologies. 1 (2): 123–145. doi:10.1080/13569319608420733 (htt
ps://doi.org/10.1080%2F13569319608420733) . "'AN's ideological tap-root is still thrust deep into
historical Fascism... retaining many Fascist core values"
55. "Elezioni della Camera dei Deputati del 27 Marzo 1994" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090612091
446/http://elezionistorico.interno.it/liste.php?tp=C&dt=27%2F03%2F1994&cta=I&tpEnte=A&tpSeg=
C&numEnte=0&sut1=&sut2=&sut3=&descEnte=&descArea=ITALIA&codTipoSegLeader=)
(in
Italian). Italian Chamber of Deputies. Archived from the original (http://elezionistorico.interno.it/list
e.php?tp=C&dt=27/03/1994&cta=I&tpEnte=A&tpSeg=C&numEnte=0&sut1=&sut2=&sut3=&descEnt
e=&descArea=ITALIA&codTipoSegLeader=)
on 12 June 2009.
56. Piero Ignazi, Colette Ysmal (1998). The Organization of Political Parties in Southern Europe.
Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 106. ISBN 9780275956127.
57. "The First Seven Years of Forza Italia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070313005130/http://www.fo
rza-italia.it/notizie/int_2817.htm) . Archived from the original (http://www.forza-italia.it/notizie/int_
2817.htm)
on 13 March 2007.
58. Gingrich, Newt; Armey, Dick (1994). Contract With America: The Bold Plan.
59. Ricolfi, Luca (2005). Dossier Italia: a che punto è il 'contratto con gli italiani. Il mulino.
60. "Berlusconi: 'Successi straordinari Contro di me l'85% dei giornali', La Repubblica, 24 maggio 2004"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20131022060704/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/e/sezioni/politica/ca
mpagna3/goveber/goveber.html) . la Repubblica. 24 May 2004. Archived from the original (http://
www.repubblica.it/2004/e/sezioni/politica/campagna3/goveber/goveber.html)
on 22 October
2013. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
61. Ricolfi, Luca (2006). Tempo scaduto. Il "Contratto con gli italiani" alla prova dei fatti. Il Mulino.
ISBN 978-88-15-10888-3.
62. "Berlusconi: "La Costituzione è di ispirazione sovietica" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131026002
229/http://www.repubblica.it/online/politica/berluparla/torino/torino.html) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 12 April 2003. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/online/politica/berluparl
a/torino/torino.html)
on 26 October 2013.
63. "Berlusconi sull'Unione "Rimpiangono quella Sovietica" " (https://web.archive.org/web/201210201627
53/http://www.repubblica.it/2005/b/sezioni/politica/cdltre/berlusparla/berlusparla.html) . la
Repubblica (in Italian). 11 February 2005. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/200
5/b/sezioni/politica/cdltre/berlusparla/berlusparla.html)
on 20 October 2012.
64. Fraser, Christian (25 January 2008). "Will Italian opposition's glee last?" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20090930115456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7208705.stm) . BBC News. Archived from
the original (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7208705.stm)
on 30 September 2009. Retrieved
27 January 2008.
65. "Berlusconi resigns as Italian PM" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120320061900/http://news.bbc.c
o.uk/2/hi/europe/4963882.stm) . BBC News. 2 May 2006. Archived from the original (http://news.
bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4963882.stm)
on 20 March 2012.
66. "FI: 7 Milioni di firme per nuovo governo" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071120051659/http://ww
w.ansa.it/opencms/export/site/notizie/rubriche/daassociare/visualizza_new.html_65041167.html)
(in Italian). ANSA. 18 November 2007. Archived from the original (http://www.ansa.it/opencms/exp
ort/site/notizie/rubriche/daassociare/visualizza_new.html_65041167.html)
on 20 November
2007.
67. " "Caste" is 2007's Word of the Year" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121106044612/http://www.cor
riere.it/english/articoli/2008/01_Gennaio/02/casta.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 2 January 2008.
Archived from the original (http://www.corriere.it/english/articoli/2008/01_Gennaio/02/casta.sht
ml)
on 6 November 2012.
68. "Oggi nasce il partito del popolo italiano" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201937/http://ww
w.corriere.it/politica/07_novembre_18/berlusconi_partito_popolo_italiano.shtml) . Corriere della
Sera (in Italian). 17 November 2007. Archived from the original (http://www.corriere.it/politica/07_no
vembre_18/berlusconi_partito_popolo_italiano.shtml)
on 29 October 2013.
69. "Berlusconi: Nuovo Partito, Bipolarismo non Possibile" (https://web.archive.org/web/200711200517
44/http://www.ansa.it/opencms/export/site/visualizza_fdg.html_65043240.html)
(in Italian).
ANSA. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original (http://www.ansa.it/opencms/export/site/visu
alizza_fdg.html_65043240.html)
on 20 November 2007.
70. "Via l'Ici e stretta sulle intercettazioni" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201351/http://www.c
orriere.it/politica/08_gennaio_25/berlusconi_napoli_a48218f8-cb73-11dc-9e0e-0003ba99c667.sht
ml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 25 January 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.corrie
re.it/politica/08_gennaio_25/berlusconi_napoli_a48218f8-cb73-11dc-9e0e-0003ba99c667.shtml)
on 29 October 2013.
71. Italian: "la rivoluzione del predellino"
72. "Il futuro della rivoluzione del predellino" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120225130136/http://www.
tempi.it/editoriale/002715-il-futuro-della-rivoluzione-del-predellino)
(in Italian). Tempi. 3 September
2008. Archived from the original (http://www.tempi.it/editoriale/002715-il-futuro-della-rivoluzione-del
-predellino)
on 25 February 2012.
73. "E per la rivoluzione del predellino il Cavaliere lascia giacca e cravatta" (https://archive.today/201207
13025112/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2007/12/16/per-la-rivoluzionedel-predellino-il.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 16 December 2007. Archived from the original (htt
p://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2007/12/16/per-la-rivoluzione-del-predellino-i
l.html)
on 13 July 2012.
74. "Svolta di Berlusconi, arriva il Pdl: "Forza Italia-An sotto stesso simbolo" " (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20131029214056/http://www1.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200802articoli/29934
girata.asp) . La Stampa (in Italian). 8 February 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.lasta
mpa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200802articoli/29934girata.asp)
on 29 October 2013.
75. "La Russa, Verdini, Bondi: ecco il triumvirato" (http://giornaleonline.unionesarda.ilsole24ore.com/Arti
colo.aspx?Data=20090330&Categ=1&Voce=2&IdArticolo=2336849)
30 March 2009.
(in Italian). L'Unione Sarda.
76. "Il leader del PdL eletto per alzata di mano" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110825162346/http://r
assegna.governo.it/rs_pdf/pdf/KYK/KYK85.pdf)
(PDF) . Avvenire (in Italian). 4 March 2009.
Archived from the original (http://rassegna.governo.it/rs_pdf/pdf/KYK/KYK85.pdf)
(PDF) on 25
August 2011.
77. "Berlusconi: comizio e apoteosi E a Fini nemmeno una risposta" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131
101224134/http://www.repubblica.it/2009/03/sezioni/politica/congresso-pdl/giornata-terza/giornat
a-terza.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 29 March 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.re
pubblica.it/2009/03/sezioni/politica/congresso-pdl/giornata-terza/giornata-terza.html)
on 1
November 2013.
78. "Presidenza e direzione: la struttura del nuovo partito" (https://web.archive.org/web/201311021137
52/http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/SoleOnLine4/dossier/Italia/2009/congresso-pdl/cronaca/struttu
ra-pdl.shtml?uuid=93a98062-1c66-11de-a0ac-32a0d777771b&DocRulesView=Libero) . Il Sole 24
Ore (in Italian). 29 March 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/SoleOnLi
ne4/dossier/Italia/2009/congresso-pdl/cronaca/struttura-pdl.shtml?uuid=93a98062-1c66-11de-a0a
c-32a0d777771b&DocRulesView=Libero)
on 2 November 2013.
79. "Il premier consegna le prime case Poi l' attacco in tv" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012110514560
7/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/settembre/16/premier_consegna_prime_case_Poi_co_8_090
916015.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 16 September 2009. Archived from the original (http://archivio
storico.corriere.it/2009/settembre/16/premier_consegna_prime_case_Poi_co_8_090916015.shtml)
on 5 November 2012.
80. "Via a Generazione Italia la nuova associazione "benedetta" da Fini" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
121105145714/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/marzo/15/Via_Generazione_Italia_nuova_ass
ociazione_co_9_100315008.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original
(http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/marzo/15/Via_Generazione_Italia_nuova_associazione_co_9_
100315008.shtml)
on 5 November 2012.
81. "La sfida del cofondatore "Non sono un dipendente Sarà lui a bruciarsi" " (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20121105145634/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/aprile/23/sfida_del_cofondatore_Non_so
no_co_8_100423002.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original (http://a
rchiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/aprile/23/sfida_del_cofondatore_Non_sono_co_8_100423002.shtm
l)
on 5 November 2012.
82. "Pdl, il documento dell'Ufficio di Presidenza" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201300/http://w
ww.repubblica.it/politica/2010/07/29/news/pdl_il_documento_dell_ufficio_di_presidenza-5938625/?r
ef=HREA-1) . la Repubblica. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/poli
tica/2010/07/29/news/pdl_il_documento_dell_ufficio_di_presidenza-5938625/?ref=HREA-1)
on 29
October 2013.
83. "Via ai gruppi finiani "Qualche difficoltà ma numeri importanti" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131
029202159/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/luglio/31/Via_gruppi_finiani_Qualche_difficolta_co
_8_100731003.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 31 July 2010. Archived from the original (http://archivio
storico.corriere.it/2010/luglio/31/Via_gruppi_finiani_Qualche_difficolta_co_8_100731003.shtml)
29 October 2013.
on
84. "Previsioni sbagliate sui numeri: nel mirino le fedelissime" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012110514
5808/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/agosto/01/Previsioni_sbagliate_sui_numeri_nel_co_8_10
0801004.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 1 August 2010. Archived from the original (http://archiviostor
ico.corriere.it/2010/agosto/01/Previsioni_sbagliate_sui_numeri_nel_co_8_100801004.shtml)
on 5
November 2012.
85. "Finiani, pronto il gruppo anche al Senato" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202203/http://ar
chiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/agosto/02/Finiani_pronto_gruppo_anche_Senato_co_9_100802014.s
html) . Corriere della Sera. 1 August 2010. Archived from the original (http://archiviostorico.corrier
e.it/2010/agosto/02/Finiani_pronto_gruppo_anche_Senato_co_9_100802014.shtml)
on 29
October 2013.
86. "Italy's political crisis: A FLI in his ear" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101216045935/https://www.e
conomist.com/node/16743353) . The Economist. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.economist.com/node/16743353)
on 16 December 2010.
87. "Fini: "Il premier si dimetta o noi lasceremo il governo" " (https://web.archive.org/web/201211051455
03/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/08/Fini_premier_dimetta_noi_lasceremo_co_8_1
01108064.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://archivi
ostorico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/08/Fini_premier_dimetta_noi_lasceremo_co_8_101108064.sht
ml)
on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
88. "I finiani fuori dal governo Duello sul voto di fiducia" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012110514555
3/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/16/finiani_fuori_dal_governo_Duello_co_9_10111
6035.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://archiviostor
ico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/16/finiani_fuori_dal_governo_Duello_co_9_101116035.shtml)
on 5
November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
89. "Dal Pdl a Fli, andata e ritorno Angeli: vedrò il Cavaliere" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121105145
646/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/novembre/17/Dal_Pdl_Fli_andata_ritorno_co_8_10111701
5.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://archiviostorico.
corriere.it/2010/novembre/17/Dal_Pdl_Fli_andata_ritorno_co_8_101117015.shtml)
on 5 November
2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
90. "Sfida in Aula, il governo passa per tre voti" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121105145515/http://a
rchiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/dicembre/15/Sfida_Aula_governo_passa_per_co_9_101215011.sht
ml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://archiviostorico.corri
ere.it/2010/dicembre/15/Sfida_Aula_governo_passa_per_co_9_101215011.shtml)
on 5 November
2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
91. "Italy's municipal elections: Not-so-sweet home" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121023170225/htt
ps://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/05/italys_municipal_elections) . The Economist.
31 May 2011. Archived from the original (https://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/05/ita
lys_municipal_elections)
on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
92. "Il Pdl all' unanimità: "Alfano sarà segretario" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20121105145730/htt
p://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2011/giugno/02/Pdl_all_unanimita_Alfano_sara_co_8_110602021.sh
tml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://archiviostorico.corri
ere.it/2011/giugno/02/Pdl_all_unanimita_Alfano_sara_co_8_110602021.shtml)
on 5 November
2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
93. "Svolta nel Pdl, Alfano segretario "Voglio un partito degli onesti" " (https://web.archive.org/web/2012
1105145621/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2011/luglio/02/Svolta_nel_Pdl_Alfano_segretario_co_9
_110702007.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://arch
iviostorico.corriere.it/2011/luglio/02/Svolta_nel_Pdl_Alfano_segretario_co_9_110702007.shtml)
on
5 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
94. "Redazione Online. "Governo battuto, la mossa del premier "Chiederò io la fiducia alla Camera"" " (htt
ps://web.archive.org/web/20140221162910/http://www.corriere.it/politica/11_ottobre_11/governo-c
amera-rendiconto-berlusconi_aa9115e4-f41b-11e0-8382-87e70525ad6b.shtml) . Corriere della
Sera. 24 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.corriere.it/politica/11_ottobre_11/g
overno-camera-rendiconto-berlusconi_aa9115e4-f41b-11e0-8382-87e70525ad6b.shtml)
on 21
February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
95. "Resoconto stenografico dell'Assemblea Seduta n. 535 di venerdì 14 ottobre 2011. Votazione della
questione di fiducia" (http://www.camera.it/412?idSeduta=535&resoconto=stenografico&indice=alfa
betico&tit=00020&fase=00020#sed0535.stenografico.tit00020.sub00020) . Camera.it. Retrieved
20 November 2011.
96. Di Matteo Tonelli (8 November 2011). "Governo, la maggioranza non c'è più Berlusconi si arrende:
"Mi dimetto" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131210111547/http://www.repubblica.it/politica/201
1/11/08/news/giornata_governo-24672057/) . la Repubblica. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.repubblica.it/politica/2011/11/08/news/giornata_governo-24672057/)
on 10 December 2013.
Retrieved 20 November 2011.
97. Gatopoulos, Derek; Winfield, Nicole (9 November 2011). "Berlusconi promises to resign amid Italy
debt woes" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131224132209/http://news.yahoo.com/berlusconi-pro
mises-resign-amid-italy-debt-woes-192448516.html) . Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Archived
from the original (https://news.yahoo.com/berlusconi-promises-resign-amid-italy-debt-woes-192448
516.html)
on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
98. Nir, Sarah Maslin (12 November 2011). "Italians Rejoice in the Streets After Berlusconi Resigns" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20111114063113/http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/italians-r
ejoice-in-the-streets-after-berlusconi-resigns/) . The New York Times. Archived from the original (htt
p://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/italians-rejoice-in-the-streets-after-berlusconi-resigns/)
on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
99. "Italy crisis: Silvio Berlusconi resigns as PM" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131128202636/http://
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15708729) . BBC. 12 November 2011. Archived from the
original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15708729)
13 November 2011.
on 28 November 2013. Retrieved
100. "Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi pledges to resign" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130923074842/htt
p://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italian-pm-silvio-berlusconi-pledges-to-resign-62587
91.html) . The Independent. London. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original (https://www.in
dependent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italian-pm-silvio-berlusconi-pledges-to-resign-6258791.html)
on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
101. Hooper, John; Squires, Nick (10 November 2011). "The party's over" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
131023012316/http://www.theage.com.au/world/the-partys-over-20111109-1n7e9.html) . The
Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original (http://www.theage.com.au/world/the-partys-over-20111
109-1n7e9.html)
on 23 October 2013.. The Age. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
102. "Silvio Berlusconi Resigns After Italian Parliament Approves Austerity Measures" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20131012191751/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/12/silvio-berlusconi-resigns
-after-italian-parliament-approves-austerity-measures_n_1090149.html) . HuffPost. 12 November
2011. Archived from the original (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/12/silvio-berlusconi-resi
gns-after-italian-parliament-approves-austerity-measures_n_1090149.html)
on 12 October 2013.
Retrieved 13 November 2011.
103. "Berlusconi ha rassegnato le dimissioni la folla urla "buffone" e lancia monetine Pdl, sì a Monti.
Letta: faccio passo indietro – Diretta aggiornata alle 02:33 del 13 Novembere 2011 – Repubblica.it"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20131227065633/http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2011/11/12/dirett
e/crisi_12_Novembere-24884019/) . La Repubblica. Archived from the original (http://www.repubbli
ca.it/politica/2011/11/12/dirette/crisi_12_Novembere-24884019/)
on 27 December 2013.
104. "Incarico a Monti: "Occorre crescita ed equità"|" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131227065600/htt
p://www.repubblica.it/politica/2011/11/13/news/monti_napolitano_dopo_incarico-24963634/?ref=H
REA-1) . La Repubblica. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/p
olitica/2011/11/13/news/monti_napolitano_dopo_incarico-24963634/?ref=HREA-1)
on 27
December 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
105. Donadio, Rachel; Povoledo, Elisabetta (16 November 2011). "Facing Crisis, Technocrats Take Charge
in Italy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120131040850/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/worl
d/europe/monti-forms-new-italian-government.html) . The New York Times. Archived from the
original (https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/world/europe/monti-forms-new-italian-governmen
t.html)
on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
106. Squires, Nick (16 November 2011). "Mario Monti appoints himself economy minister as he unveils
Italy government" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140201115554/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finan
ce/financialcrisis/8894014/Mario-Monti-appoints-himself-economy-minister-as-he-unveils-Italy-gover
nment.html) . The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original (https://www.telegraph.co.u
k/finance/financialcrisis/8894014/Mario-Monti-appoints-himself-economy-minister-as-he-unveils-Ital
y-government.html)
on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
107. "Blog | Trani indaga su Deutsche Bank: la caduta del governo Berlusconi fu davvero 'un colpo di
Stato'?" (http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/05/07/trani-indaga-su-deutsche-bank-la-caduta-del-go
verno-berlusconi-fu-davvero-un-colpo-di-stato/2704885/) . Il Fatto Quotidiano. 7 May 2016.
108. "Blog | Berlusconi gode: dagli Usa la teoria del complotto" (http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/05/1
4/berlusconi-gode-dagli-usa-la-teoria-del-complotto/985469/) . Il Fatto Quotidiano. 14 May 2014.
109. Rame, Sergio (23 March 2015). "Zapatero: "Quando Berlusconi si ribellò al Fmi, l'Ue iniziò a pensare
a Monti" " (http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/zapatero-quando-berlusconi-si-ribell-fmi-lue-inizi-pen
sare-1108402.html) . Il Giornale.
110. Berlusconi: "Scendo in campo per vincereItaliani depressi da Monti. Voto il 10 marzo" – Politica –
Tgcom24 (http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/politica/articoli/1072397/berlusconi-scendo-in-campo-p
er-vincereitaliani-depressi-da-monti-voto-il-10-marzo.shtml) . Tgcom24.mediaset.it. Retrieved 4
August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131013060857/http://www.tgcom24.media
set.it/politica/articoli/1072397/berlusconi-scendo-in-campo-per-vincereitaliani-depressi-da-monti-vot
o-il-10-marzo.shtml)
13 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
111. BBC News – Silvio Berlusconi 'won't stand for PM' (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-209
32312) . BBC. (7 January 2013). Retrieved 4 August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/
20130329025441/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20932312)
29 March 2013 at the
Wayback Machine
112. BBC News – Italian media see instability following poll deadlock (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world
-europe-21587150) . BBC. (26 February 2013). Retrieved 4 August 2013. Archived (https://web.arc
hive.org/web/20130527230230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21587150)
27 May
2013 at the Wayback Machine
113. "Berlusconi: Forza Italia back and I will be driving it" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013102306220
3/http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2013-06-28/berlusconi-sostegno-convinto-leale-201248.
shtml) . Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 28 June 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.ilsole24or
e.com/art/notizie/2013-06-28/berlusconi-sostegno-convinto-leale-201248.shtml)
on 23 October
2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
114. Berlusconi annuncia ritorno di Forza Italia. "Temo che sarò ancora il numero uno" (http://www.repub
blica.it/politica/2013/06/28/news/berlusconi-62047776/) . la Repubblica.it (28 June 2013).
Retrieved 24 August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131031140743/http://www.rep
ubblica.it/politica/2013/06/28/news/berlusconi-62047776/)
31 October 2013 at the Wayback
Machine
115. "Berlusconi breaks away from Italian government after party splits" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
131202232953/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/16/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE9AE15M2
0131116) . Reuters. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/articl
e/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE9AE15M20131116)
on 2 December 2013.
116. "Archivio Corriere della Sera" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131203023906/http://archiviostorico.c
orriere.it/2013/novembre/16/rottura_tra_Berlusconi_Alfano_vicepremier_co_0_20131116_655ef5744e8a-11e3-9c1a-7bb9640fad0f.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. Archived from the original (http://archi
vio.corriere.it/Archivio/interface/landing.html)
on 3 December 2013.
117. "Silvio Berlusconi torna in campo: "Alle elezioni io ci sarò. Anche senza candidabilità posso spostare
milioni di voti" " (https://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/03/18/silvio-berlusconi-ritorno-alle-elezioni-ci-sa
ro_n_15452562.html) . L'Huffington Post. 18 March 2017.
118. "Silvio Berlusconi sogna l'ennesimo ritorno" (https://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/2017/03/21/silvio-berl
usconi-sogna-lennesimo-ritorno/33613/) . Linkiesta. 21 March 2017.
119. "Elezioni politiche: vincono M5s e Lega. Crollo del Partito democratico. Centrodestra prima
coalizione. Il Carroccio sorpassa Forza Italia" (http://www.repubblica.it/speciali/politica/elezioni201
8/2018/03/04/news/risultati_elezioni_politiche_pd_centrodestra_m5s_fi_lega-190424815/?ref=RHPP
TP-BL-I0-C12-P1-S1.12-T1) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 4 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
120. Boffey, Daniel (17 January 2019). "Silvio Berlusconi says he intends to stand for European
parliament" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/17/silvio-berlusconi-intends-stand-europ
ean-parliament-billionaire-former-italian-prime-minister-tax-fraud) . The Guardian. London.
ISSN 0261-3077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077) . Retrieved 5 March 2019.
121. Oltermann, Philip; Walker, Shaun; Giuffrida, Angela (27 May 2019). "An NBA star, a TV chef and a
comedian: meet some of the new MEPs" (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/27/nbastar-a-tv-chef-and-a-sad-comic-meet-some-of-europes-new-meps-europe-eu-elections) . The
Guardian.
122. Giuffrida, Angela (29 January 2022). "Sergio Mattarella reelected Italy's president amid deep
divisions" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/29/for-the-stability-of-italy-sergio-mattarell
a-could-be-reelected-president) . The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
123. "He's back: Silvio Berlusconi launches bid for Italian presidency" (https://www.independent.co.uk/ne
ws/world/europe/berlusconi-launches-bid-italian-presidency-b1972900.html) . The Independent. 9
December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
124. Cerulus, Laurens; Cornelius, Hirsch (9 January 2022). "The good, bad and ugly of the European
Parliament" (https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-report-card-2022-good-bad-ugl
y/) . Politico Europe. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
125. "Istituzioni, Europa, Enti Locali: "Il G8 deve fermare gli speculatori" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20
110928141542/http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_53_20080707093017.pdf)
(PDF) .
Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 7 July 2008. p. 10. Archived from the original (http://www.regione.sar
degna.it/documenti/1_53_20080707093017.pdf)
(PDF) on 28 September 2011.
126. "Esportare la democrazia anche cambiando leggi internazionali" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013
1020060551/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2003/dicembre/06/Esportare_democrazia_anche_cam
biando_leggi_co_0_031206147.shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 6 December 2003. p. 6.
Archived from the original (http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2003/dicembre/06/Esportare_democrazi
a_anche_cambiando_leggi_co_0_031206147.shtml)
on 20 October 2013. "...Berlusconi, l' uomo
che disse in passato di essere dalla parte degli Stati Uniti prima ancora di sapere da quale parte
questi si schierano...."
127. Momigliano, Anna (November 2011). "Italy's Berlusconi agrees to resign. Here's why" (https://www.c
smonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/1109/Italy-s-Berlusconi-agrees-to-resign.-Here-s-why) . The
Christian Science Monitor.
128. ALESSANDRI, Emiliano. "Italian-Turkish Relations: Potential and Limits of a 'Strategic Partnership' "
(https://web.archive.org/web/20200713050219/http://sam.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/e
miliano_alessandri.pdf)
(PDF) . sam.gov.tr/. Archived from the original (http://sam.gov.tr/wp-conte
nt/uploads/2011/12/emiliano_alessandri.pdf)
(PDF) on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September
2018.
129. "Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Warmly Received in Israel" (http://ambtelaviv.esteri.it/resource/200
7/03/13162_f_amb61NI24luglio2003.pdf)
(PDF) . Ambasciata d'Italia Tel Aviv. July 2003.
130. "Italia sempre disponibile per ingresso Turchia in Europa" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012111511
1455/http://www.asca.it/news-G8__BONAIUTI__ITALIA_SEMPRE_DISPONIBILE_PER_INGRESSO_TUR
CHIA_IN_EUROPA-845176-ORA-.html)
(in Italian). ASCA. 10 July 2009. Archived from the original
(http://www.asca.it/news-G8__BONAIUTI__ITALIA_SEMPRE_DISPONIBILE_PER_INGRESSO_TURCHIA
_IN_EUROPA-845176-ORA-.html)
on 15 November 2012.
131. "Berlusconi invita Erdogan alla riunione degli Europei" (https://web.archive.org/web/2011082516260
7/http://rassegna.governo.it/testo.asp?d=38379982) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 10 July
2009. Archived from the original (http://rassegna.governo.it/testo.asp?d=38379982)
on 25
August 2011.
132. "Zirve bahane gösteriş şahane" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131018005304/http://www.sabah.c
om.tr/Dunya/2009/07/10/zirve_bahane_gosteris_sahane) . Sabah (in Turkish). 10 July 2009.
Archived from the original (http://www.sabah.com.tr/Dunya/2009/07/10/zirve_bahane_gosteris_s
ahane)
on 18 October 2013.
133. "Full text of letter written by eight European leaders" (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/full-text-of-le
tter-written-by-eight-european-leaders-1.459198) . The Irish Times. 30 January 2003.
134. Roberts, Roxanne (May 2004). "The Italian Connection" (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
articles/A41722-2004May20.html) . The Washington Post.
135. Tucker, Spencer C. (2010). The Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars: The United States in the Persian
Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts [5 volumes]: The United States in the Persian Gulf,
Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts. ABC-CLIO. p. 609. ISBN 9781851099481.
136. "Berlusconi, Centrex, Hexagon 1 and 2 and Gazprom" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013102210420
3/http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34194) . The
Jamestown Foundation. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.jamestown.org/si
ngle/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34194)
on 22 October 2013.
137. "The Putin and Pals Project" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131107045000/http://www.kommersa
nt.com/page.asp?id=636565) . Archived from the original (http://www.kommersant.com/page.as
p?id=636565)
on 7 November 2013.. Kommersant. 24 December 2005
138. "EU membership next step for Russia after NATO" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131020110005/h
ttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-5-2002_pg4_1) . Daily Times. 28 May
2002. Archived from the original (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-5-2002_
pg4_1)
on 20 October 2013.
139.
140. Israely, Jeff (7 July 2003). "Do Not Adjust Your Sets" (https://web.archive.org/web/2008101111212
8/http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/article/0%2C13005%2C901030707-461792%2C0
0.html) . Time. Archived from the original (http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/article/0,1
3005,901030707-461792,00.html)
on 11 October 2008.
141. Smoltczyk, Alexander (10 September 2008). "The Silvio Show: Berlusconi's Extended Honeymoon" (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20110916025803/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0%2C151
8%2C583212%2C00.html) . Der Spiegel. Archived from the original (http://www.spiegel.de/internati
onal/europe/0,1518,583212,00.html)
on 16 September 2011.
142. "Berlusconi accuses West of 'irresponsible' Russia sanctions" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wo
rldnews/europe/italy/11081841/Berlusconi-accuses-West-of-irresponsible-Russia-sanctions.html) .
The Daily Telegraph. London. 8 September 2014. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220
111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11081841/Berlusconi-accuses-West
-of-irresponsible-Russia-sanctions.html)
from the original on 11 January 2022.
143. "Putin pays late-night visit to 'old friend' Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190428144419/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/old-friends-putin-and-berlusconi-enjoy-reunion-in-milan9802327.html) . The Independent. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original (http://www.indepe
ndent.co.uk/news/people/old-friends-putin-and-berlusconi-enjoy-reunion-in-milan-9802327.html)
on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
144. "Friends no more: Berlusconi denounces Putin over Ukraine war" (https://www.independent.co.uk/ne
ws/world/europe/berlusconi-putin-ukraine-war-russia-italy-b2055724.html) . The Independent. 12
April 2022.
145. Netanyahu to Berlusconi: Israel lucky to have you as a friend (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7
340,L-3842871,00.html)
Aviad Glickman 02.01.10
146. Netanyahu has joined his buddy Berlusconi in an alliance of rejects (http://www.haaretz.com/opinio
n/netanyahu-has-joined-his-buddy-berlusconi-in-an-alliance-of-rejects-1.367604)
Haaretz, By Akiva
Eldar, 14 June 2011
147. Berlusconi says Israel should be an EU member (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/mid
dleeast/israel/7133042/Berlusconi-says-Israel-should-be-an-EU-member.html)
The Daily Telegraph,
7:30 am GMT 2 February 2010
148. "Berlusconi: West should support Israel, not Palestinians" (http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacydefense/1.617192) . Haaretz. 22 September 2014.
149. Israel to buy Italy's M-346 jet trainer for $1b (http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-1000725663)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150215045214/http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-10007
25663)
15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine 16 February 2012, 16:45 Yuval Azulai
150. "Italy's Berlusconi visit ends Belarus isolation" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120402042242/htt
p://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/belarus-italy.1pq) . EUbusiness. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/belarus-italy.1pq)
on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
151. "Disputed Belarus Vote Shows 'Love' for Leader, Berlusconi Says" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013
1105065522/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aeTaYgPv3vAE) .
Bloomberg. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original (https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/new
s?pid=newsarchive&sid=aeTaYgPv3vAE)
on 5 November 2013.
152. "Frattini: piano in otto punti per i Balcani" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120224203945/http://ww
w.ilgiornale.it/esteri/frattini_piano_otto_punti_balcani/05-04-2009/articolo-id%3D341698-page%3D0comments%3D1) . il Giornale (in Italian). 5 April 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.ilgior
nale.it/esteri/frattini_piano_otto_punti_balcani/05-04-2009/articolo-id=341698-page=0-comments
=1)
on 24 February 2012.
153. "Ratifica ed esecuzione del Trattato di amicizia, partenariato e cooperazione tra la Repubblica
italiana e la Grande Giamahiria araba libica popolare socialista, fatto a Bengasi il 30 agosto 2008"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20090618082911/http://www.senato.it/parlam/leggi/09007l.htm)
(in Italian). Parliament of Italy press release. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.senato.it/parlam/leggi/09007l.htm)
on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
154. "Gaddafi to Rome for historic visit" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090616155752/http://www.ans
a.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-06-09_109379246.html) . ANSA. 10 June 2009.
Archived from the original (http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-06-09_1093
79246.html)
on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
155. "Berlusconi in Benghazi, Unwelcome by Son of Omar Al-Mukhtar" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013
1202225659/http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=2335) . The Tripoli Post. 30
August 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=233
5)
on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
156. "Italia-Libia, firmato l'accordo" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000538/http://www.repubblic
a.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html) . La Repubblica (in
Italian). 30 August 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/ester
i/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html)
on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
157. "Libya agrees pact with Italy to boost investment" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090618080801/h
ttp://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C03%5C03-02%5Czbusinessz%5C98
8.htm&dismode=x&ts=02%2F03%2F2009%2004%3A42%3A49%20%C3%A3) . Al-Arab. 2 March
2009. Archived from the original (http://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C
03%5C03-02%5Czbusinessz%5C988.htm&dismode=x&ts=02/03/2009%2004:42:49%20%C3%A3)
on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
158. "G8 summits sets seal on Obama's new diplomacy" (http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091016020540/ht
tp://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/276995%2Cleadall-g8-summits-sets-seal-on-obamas-new-dip
lomacy.html) . Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 10 July 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.eart
htimes.org/articles/show/276995,leadall-g8-summits-sets-seal-on-obamas-new-diplomacy.html)
on 16 October 2009.
159. "Gaddafi comes in front the cold" (http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091016020540/http://www.earthti
mes.org/articles/show/276995%2Cleadall-g8-summits-sets-seal-on-obamas-new-diplomacy.html) .
Daily Express. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/2
76995,leadall-g8-summits-sets-seal-on-obamas-new-diplomacy.html)
on 16 October 2009.
160. "Gaddafi comes in front the cold" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121027123015/http://www.afriqu
ejet.com/news/africa-news/gaddafi-meets-obama-in-aquila-2009071131416.html) . 10 July 2009.
Archived from the original (http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/gaddafi-meets-obama-in-aq
uila-2009071131416.html)
on 27 October 2012.
161. "Feeing the hungry to changing the climate – what the G8 did for us" (https://web.archive.org/web/
20120229174804/http://www.euronews.net/2009/07/10/feeing-the-hungry-to-changing-the-climatewhat-the-g8-did-for-us/) . Euronews. 10 July 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.euronew
s.net/2009/07/10/feeing-the-hungry-to-changing-the-climate-what-the-g8-did-for-us/)
on 25 May
2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
162. Martinuzzi, Elisa; Totaro, Lorenzo (8 March 2011). "Italian Sanctions Against Qaddafi Stop Short of
Libyan-Owned Banca UBAE" (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-08/italy-sanctions-on-qad
dafi-stop-short-of-curtailing-libya-controlled-bank.html) . Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
163. Floriano De Angeli, "L'Europeo", n. 49, 1993
164. "berlusconismo" (http://www.treccani.it/Portale/elements/categoriesItems.jsp?pathFile=/sites/defaul
t/BancaDati/Vocabolario_online/B/VIT_III_B_013453.xml)
s. m., lemma del Vocabolario Treccani
online, dal sito dell'Istituto dell'Enciclopedia italiana Treccani
165. Owen, Richard (14 April 2008). "Profile: the irrepressible Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20110629120652/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3746319.ece) .
The Times. London. Archived from the original (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europ
e/article3746319.ece)
on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
166. "The strange relationship between Silvio Berlusconi and Italian Jews" (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0140215080840/http://972mag.com/strange-relationship-between-silvio-berlusconi-and-italian-jew
s/65487/) . 6 February 2013. Archived from the original (https://972mag.com/strange-relationship
-between-silvio-berlusconi-and-italian-jews/65487/)
on 15 February 2014.
167. "Pro-Israel Berlusconi loses in Italy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140116223429/http://www.jta.o
rg/2006/04/17/life-religion/features/pro-israel-berlusconi-loses-in-italy) . 17 April 2006. Archived
from the original (https://www.jta.org/2006/04/17/lifestyle/pro-israel-berlusconi-loses-in-italy)
16 January 2014.
on
168. "Berlusconi defends 'good' Mussolini" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140417115744/http://www.alj
azeera.com/news/europe/2013/01/20131280123580592.html) . Al Jazeera. Archived from the
original (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/01/20131280123580592.html)
on 17
April 2014.
169. "Il Berlusconismo è come Gollismo: durerà a lungo, non è passeggero" (https://web.archive.org/web/
20140109222607/http://www.claudioscajola.it/evento.asp?id=392) . 25 January 2007. Archived
from the original (http://www.claudioscajola.it/evento.asp?id=392)
on 9 January 2014. Retrieved
2 October 2008.
170. Berlusconi: "Dialogo? Io sono il più moderato di tutti!" (http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/fini-Camera
-riforme-appello110209.html) , Affaritaliani, 11 febbraio 2009 Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20140109213318/http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/fini-Camera-riforme-appello110209.html)
9
January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
171. Herpen, Marcel Van (21 January 2013). Putinism (https://books.google.com/books?id=Ri6uez6FGV
sC&pg=PA204) . google.it. ISBN 9781137282804.
172. "De Mita:"Berlusconi populista e antieuropeista come Grillo"" IRPINIANEWS.IT" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20140328063512/http://www.irpinianews.it/Politica/news/?news=133057) . Archived from
the original (http://www.irpinianews.it/Politica/news/?news=133057)
on 28 March 2014.
173. "Per Fini, Berlusconi è un conservatore… Intanto viene fischiato alla commemorazione di Almirante"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20140225023315/http://www.falcodestro.it/blog/2011/03/06/per-finiberlusconi-e-un-conservatore%E2%80%A6-intanto-viene-fischiato-alla-commemorazione-di-almirant
e/) . falcodestro.it. Archived from the original (http://www.falcodestro.it/blog/2011/03/06/per-finiberlusconi-e-un-conservatore%E2%80%A6-intanto-viene-fischiato-alla-commemorazione-di-almirant
e/)
on 25 February 2014.
174. "Quegli economisti euroscettici (proprio come Berlusconi)" (https://web.archive.org/web/201405141
71348/http://www.ilfoglio.it/soloqui/10961) . Il Foglio (in Italian). 31 October 2011. Archived from
the original (http://www.ilfoglio.it/soloqui/10961)
on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
175. "Can Berlusconi make a eurosceptic comeback?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140204010744/ht
tp://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/2245081-can-berlusconi-make-eurosceptic-comeb
ack) . la Repubblica/The Guardian. Presseurop. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original (http://w
ww.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/2245081-can-berlusconi-make-eurosceptic-comeback)
on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
176. "Berlusconi turns Eurosceptic in bid to return to power" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140202231
513/http://www.cityam.com/article/berlusconi-turns-eurosceptic-bid-return-power) . City A.M. 18
July 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.cityam.com/article/berlusconi-turns-eurosceptic-bi
d-return-power)
on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
177. "Internazionale" (http://www.internazionale.it/) . Internazionale.
178. Tutti i processi a carico di Silvio Berlusconi – LISTA – Panorama (http://news.panorama.it/politica/i
n-giustizia/processi-berlusconi-lista)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140508112519/htt
p://news.panorama.it/politica/in-giustizia/processi-berlusconi-lista)
8 May 2014 at the Wayback
Machine
179. "Idem: "Presto ddl sui matrimoni gay, anche Berlusconi è favorevole" " (https://web.archive.org/web/
20131103151344/http://www.ilmessaggero.it/primopiano/politica/idem_presto_ddl_sui_matrimoni_g
ay_anche_berlusconi_favorevole/notizie/278333.shtml) . Il Messaggero. 10 May 2013. Archived
from the original (http://www.ilmessaggero.it/primopiano/politica/idem_presto_ddl_sui_matrimoni_g
ay_anche_berlusconi_favorevole/notizie/278333.shtml)
on 3 November 2013. Retrieved
28 November 2013.
180. "Berlusconi apre alle unioni gay (perché Monti tace). Pdl: "Coerente" " (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0140324020312/http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/01/07/berlusconi-apre-alle-coppie-gay-mentre
-monti-tace-pdl-coerente/463101/) . il Fatto Quotidiano. 7 January 2013. Archived from the
original (http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/01/07/berlusconi-apre-alle-coppie-gay-mentre-monti-t
ace-pdl-coerente/463101/)
on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
181. Rame, Sergio (8 January 2013). "Il Cav apre ai matrimoni gay e fa scoppiare un acceso dibattito" (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20131103233700/http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/cav-apre-ai-matri
moni-gay-e-fa-scoppiare-acceso-dibattito-872127.html) . il Giornale. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/cav-apre-ai-matrimoni-gay-e-fa-scoppiare-acceso-dibattito-8721
27.html)
on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
182. Jebreal, Rula (21 September 2015). "Donald Trump is America's Silvio Berlusconi" (https://www.wash
ingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/09/21/donald-trump-is-americas-silvio-berlusconi/) . The
Washington Post. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
183. Berlusconi, David (10 November 2016). "What Donald Trump and Silvio Berlusconi have in common"
(https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21709984-americans-could-look-italy-taste-things-comewhat-donald-trump-and-silvio) . The Economist. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
184. Foot, John (20 October 2016). "We've seen Donald Trump before – his name was Silvio Berlusconi"
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/20/donald-trump-silvio-berlusconi-italy-pri
me-minister) . The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
185. Cohen, Roger (14 March 2016). "The Trump-Berlusconi Syndrome" (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/
03/15/opinion/the-trump-berlusconi-syndrome.html) . The New York Times. Retrieved
11 November 2016.
186. Bruni, Frank (18 July 2015). "Name That Narcissist" (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/
19/opinion/sunday/Frank-Bruni-Quiz-Trump-Berlusconi.html) . The New York Times. Retrieved
20 August 2019.
187. Nadeau, Barbie Latza (28 February 2016). "Italy Elected Its Trump—and It Was a Fiasco" (http://ww
w.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/28/were-donald-trump-and-silvio-berlusconi-separated-at-birt
h.html) . The Daily Beast. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
188. Marchetti, Silvia (7 April 2016). "In Trump, Italians Recognize a Familiar Orange Face" (https://www.p
olitico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/donald-trump-2016-silvio-berlusconi-italy-213797) . Politico.
Retrieved 20 August 2018.
189. "Is This What a Trump Presidency Would Look Like?" (https://www.politico.com/magazine/gallery/2
016/04/is-this-what-a-trump-presidency-would-look-like-000627?slide=0) . Politico. 7 April 2016.
Retrieved 20 August 2018.
190. Newman, Lorenzo (3 April 2017). "Bunga Bunga, American Style" (http://www.slate.com/articles/ne
ws_and_politics/foreigners/2017/04/the_similarities_between_trump_and_berlusconi_are_much_dee
per_than_you_think.html) . Slate. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
191. "Now the Czechs Have an Oligarch Problem, Too" (https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/10/now-the-cz
echs-have-an-oligarch-problem-too-andrej-babis/) . Foreign Policy. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
192. Anderson, Perry (September–October 2002). "Force and Consent". The New Left Review (17).
193. Sanderson, Rachel (7 February 2012). "Berlusconi faces another court case" (https://www.ft.com/c
ms/s/0/33dac7ca-51a8-11e1-a30c-00144feabdc0.html) . Financial Times. Milan. Retrieved
10 February 2012.
194. "Silvio Berlusconi faces fourth trial on wiretap charges" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130924064
832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16933697) . BBC News. 7 February 2012. Archived
from the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16933697)
on 24 September 2013.
Retrieved 10 February 2012.
195. "Berlusconi sentenced to 1 year jail in wiretap trial" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140413211555/
https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/07/us-italy-berlusconi-trial-idUSBRE9260FG20130307) .
Reuters. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-berlusc
oni-trial-idUSBRE9260FG20130307)
on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
196. "Berlusconi wiretap charge timed out, says court" (http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2014/03/31/ber
lusconi-wiretap-charge-timed-out-says-court_8b5d1a7c-48c7-469f-9228-7b0262e66796.html) .
ANSA. 31 March 2014.
197. "Unipol: the regulation saves Silvio Berlusconi from a new judgment" (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0160220125812/http://neurope.eu/article/unipol-regulation-saves-silvio-berlusconi-new-judgmen
t/) . New Europe. 1 April 2014. Archived from the original (http://www.neurope.eu/article/unipol-re
gulation-saves-silvio-berlusconi-new-judgment)
on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
198. "Berlusconi indagato a Napoli per compravendita di senatori" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013102
9194629/http://napoli.repubblica.it/cronaca/2013/02/28/news/berlusconi_indagato_a_napoli_per_c
ompravendita_di_senatori-53565459/?ref=HREA-1) . La Repubblica (in Italian). 28 February 2013.
Archived from the original (http://napoli.repubblica.it/cronaca/2013/02/28/news/berlusconi_indaga
to_a_napoli_per_compravendita_di_senatori-53565459/?ref=HREA-1)
Retrieved 28 February 2013.
on 29 October 2013.
199. "Compravendita senatori, Berlusconi e Lavitola rinviati a giudizio" (https://web.archive.org/web/2014
0402205550/http://ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/speciali/2013/07/30/Pdl-piazza-Berlusconi-rassicu
ra_9120850.html)
(in Italian). ANSA. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.ans
a.it/web/notizie/rubriche/speciali/2013/07/30/Pdl-piazza-Berlusconi-rassicura_9120850.html)
on
2 April 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
200. "Compravendita senatori, Berlusconi a processo a Napoli" (https://web.archive.org/web/201310300
02116/http://www.agi.it/cronaca/notizie/201310231932-cro-rt10359-compravendita_senatori_berlu
sconi_a_processo_insorge_pdl)
(in Italian). Agenzia Giornalistica Italia (AGI). 23 October 2013.
Archived from the original (http://www.agi.it/cronaca/notizie/201310231932-cro-rt10359-comprave
ndita_senatori_berlusconi_a_processo_insorge_pdl)
on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October
2013.
201. "Rossi 'offered bribe' to join Berlusconi" (https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2014/05/07/rossi
-offered-bribe-to-join-berlusconi_fc6e83b3-ae53-4e81-86d0-e07929a2e86e.html) . ANSA. 7 May
2014.
202. "Reg. conf. poteri n.3 del 2013 pubbl. su G.U. del 28/08/2013 n.35 (Appellant: Justice of the Peace
of Viterbo, Defendant: Chamber of Deputies)" (http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/schedaConflittoPote
ri.do?_conflitto_anno=2013&_conflitto_numero=3)
(in Italian). Corte Costituzionale. 28 August
2013.
203. "Cassazione: Berlusconi accusato di diffamazione a Di Pietro, si riparte da zero" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20131029202925/http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/Politica/Cassazione-Berlusconi
-accusato-di-diffamazione-a-Di-Pietro-si-riparte-da-zero_312877649022.html)
(in Italian).
Adnkronos. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/Po
litica/Cassazione-Berlusconi-accusato-di-diffamazione-a-Di-Pietro-si-riparte-da-zero_31287764902
2.html)
on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
204. "Cassazione: Berlusconi accusato di diffamazione a Di Pietro, si riparte da zero" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20131029195416/http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/914198/Cassazione-Berlusconi-a
ccusato-di-diffamazione-a-Di-Pietro-si-riparte-da-zero.html)
(in Italian). LiberoQuotidiano.it. 19
January 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/914198/CassazioneBerlusconi-accusato-di-diffamazione-a-Di-Pietro-si-riparte-da-zero.html)
on 29 October 2013.
Retrieved 23 May 2012.
205. "Diffamazione Berlusconi-Di Pietro, atti alla Corte Costituzionale" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013
1029200741/http://www.tusciaweb.eu/2013/01/diffamazione-berlusconi-di-pietro-atti-alla-corte-cos
tituzionale/)
(in Italian). TusciaWeb. 10 January 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.tusc
iaweb.eu/2013/01/diffamazione-berlusconi-di-pietro-atti-alla-corte-costituzionale/)
on 29 October
2013.
206. "Consulta: sì a ricorso di Di Pietro contro Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013102919505
9/http://www.unita.it/italia/consulta-si-a-ricorso-di-di-pietro-contro-berlusconi-1.506963)
(in
Italian). L'Unità. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.unita.it/italia/consulta-si-a-ric
orso-di-di-pietro-contro-berlusconi-1.506963)
on 29 October 2013.
207. "Public hearing on 8 July 2014 (case 10+11): Video" (https://web.archive.org/web/2015040211523
9/http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/ActionPagina_1235.do)
(in Italian). Corte Costituzionale. 8
July 2014. Archived from the original (http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/ActionPagina_1235.do)
on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
208. "Reg. conf. poteri n.13 del 2011 pubbl. su G.U. del 29/08/2012 n.34 (Appellant: Court of Rome –
Section 1.a civil; Defendant: Chamber of Deputies)" (http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/schedaConflitt
oPoteri.do?_conflitto_anno=2011&_conflitto_numero=13)
(in Italian). Corte Costituzionale. 29
August 2012.
209. "Sentenza 221/2014 del 09/07/2014" (http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/actionSchedaPronuncia.d
o?anno=2014&numero=221)
(in Italian). Corte Costituzionale. 18 July 2014.
210. "Sentenza 222/2014 del 09/07/2014" (http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/actionSchedaPronuncia.d
o?anno=2014&numero=222)
(in Italian). Corte Costituzionale. 18 July 2014.
211. Hooper, John (15 February 2011).Hooper, John (15 February 2011). "Silvio Berlusconi to face trial in
underage sex case" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110831183453/http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl
d/2011/feb/15/silvio-berlusconi-trail-underage-sex-case) . The Guardian. London. Archived from
the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/15/silvio-berlusconi-trail-underage-sexcase)
on 31 August 2011.. The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
212. Hooper, John (15 February 2011). "Silvio Berlusconi sent for trial accused of paying for sex with
teenager" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130523045027/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/f
eb/15/silvio-berlusconi-trial-teenage-sex) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (http
s://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/15/silvio-berlusconi-trial-teenage-sex)
on 23 May 2013.
Retrieved 13 February 2012.
213. Hooper, John (6 April 2011). "Silvio Berlusconi underage sex trial begins" (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20121020015707/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/silvio-berlusconi-sex-trial-be
gins) . The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/ap
r/06/silvio-berlusconi-sex-trial-begins)
on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
214. "Silvio Berlusconi: Ruby sex trial plea rejected" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130525051853/htt
p://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21010660) . BBC News. 14 January 2013. Archived from
the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21010660)
on 25 May 2013. Retrieved
14 January 2013.
215. Davies, Lizzy (24 June 2013). "Silvio Berlusconi found guilty of paying for sex with underage
prostitute" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130720143914/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/j
un/24/silvio-berlusconi-guilty-underage-prostitute) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the
original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/24/silvio-berlusconi-guilty-underage-prosti
tute)
on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
216. "Processo Ruby, Silvio Berlusconi deposita appello e chiede assoluzione" (http://www.ilfattoquotidian
o.it/2014/01/02/processo-ruby-berlusconi-deposita-appello-e-chiede-assoluzione/830232/) . Il
Fatto Quotidiano. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
217. "Silvio Berlusconi cavalca la guerra in procura per rallentare il processo Ruby" (http://www.huffington
post.it/2014/06/10/processo-ruby-berlusconi_n_5480541.html) . HuffPost. 10 June 2014.
Retrieved 17 June 2014.
218. "Legal victory for Berlusconi as court annuls prison sentence" (https://web.archive.org/web/201407
28023948/http://www.theitalynews.net/index.php/sid/223906793/scat/145bb158ac2f80f2/ht/Leg
al-victory-for-Berlusconi-as-court-annuls-prison-sentence) . The Italy News.Net. Archived from the
original (http://www.theitalynews.net/index.php/sid/223906793/scat/145bb158ac2f80f2/ht/Legal-v
ictory-for-Berlusconi-as-court-annuls-prison-sentence)
on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
219. "Processo Ruby, Berlusconi assolto in appello" (http://www.ilpost.it/2014/07/18/live-berlusconi-assol
to-ruby/)
(in Italian). Ilpost.it. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
220. "Caso Ruby, clamorosa sentenza in appello: Berlusconi assolto da tutti i reati" (http://milano.repubbli
ca.it/cronaca/2014/07/18/news/caso_ruby_il_giorno_della_sentenza_atteso_per_oggi_il_verdetto_d_
appello-91851295/) . La Repubblica (in Italian). 18 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
221. " "Ruby ter", indagato Berlusconi È accusato di avere corrotto i testimoni" (http://milano.corriere.it/n
otizie/cronaca/14_gennaio_23/ruby-ter-indagato-silvio-berlusconi-l-accusa-corruzione-atti-giudiziarie27a629e-8415-11e3-a32e-831830ba1aa5.shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 23 January
2014.
222. "Napoli, pm chiede nuove indagini su Silvio Berlusconi" (http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/napoli-p
m-chiede-nuove-indagini-su-silvio-berlusconi-1011425.html)
(in Italian). Il Giornale. 16 April 2014.
223. "Milano, chiusa l'indagine Mediaset. Berlusconi verso il rinvio a giudizio" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20131102134130/http://www.repubblica.it/2005/b/sezioni/cronaca/processome/processome/pr
ocessome.html?ref=search) . La Repubblica (in Italian). 19 February 2005. Archived from the
original (http://www.repubblica.it/2005/b/sezioni/cronaca/processome/processome/processome.ht
ml?ref=search)
on 2 November 2013.
224. "Chiesto il rinvio a giudizio per Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131101210502/http://ww
w.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2005/04_Aprile/26/berlusconi.shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in
Italian). 27 April 2005. Archived from the original (http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/200
5/04_Aprile/26/berlusconi.shtml)
on 1 November 2013.
225. "I pm: 3 anni e 8 mesi di carcere a Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131101210417/htt
p://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2012/giugno/19/anni_mesi_carcere_Berlusconi_co_8_120619045.sht
ml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 19 June 2012. Archived from the original (http://archiviostoric
o.corriere.it/2012/giugno/19/anni_mesi_carcere_Berlusconi_co_8_120619045.shtml)
on 1
November 2013.
226. "Silvio Berlusconi sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012
1029184615/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Silvio-Berlusconi-sentenced-to-four-y
ears-in-prison-for-tax-fraud/articleshow/16970451.cms) . The Times of India. Archived from the
original (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Silvio-Berlusconi-sentenced-to-four-years-i
n-prison-for-tax-fraud/articleshow/16970451.cms)
2012.
on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October
227. "Silvio Berlusconi Sentenced To Four Years in Prison Over Mediaset Tax Evasion" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20131013025003/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/26/silvio-berlusconi-senten
ced-to-four-years-in-prison_n_2023142.html) . HuffPost. 26 October 2012. Archived from the
original (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/26/silvio-berlusconi-sentenced-to-four-years-in-p
rison_n_2023142.html)
on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
228. "Process Mediaset TV rights: Berlusconi sentenced to four years on appeal (Tax Fraud: confirmed
the first instance judgment, including the disqualification from holding public office for 5 years)" (htt
ps://web.archive.org/web/20131020122621/http://milano.corriere.it/milano/notizie/cronaca/13_ma
ggio_8/berlusconi-processo-mediaset-avanti-decisione-corte-appello-milano-2121033125704.shtm
l) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 8 May 2013. Archived from the original (http://milano.corriere.it/
milano/notizie/cronaca/13_maggio_8/berlusconi-processo-mediaset-avanti-decisione-corte-appellomilano-2121033125704.shtml)
on 20 October 2013.
229. Sala, Alessandro (August 2013). "Confermata la condanna per Berlusconi Il Cavaliere ottiene solo lo
stop all'interdizione" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140425121423/http://www.corriere.it/politica/
13_agosto_01/berlusconi-cassazione-sentenza_fd399324-fa87-11e2-9aaf-71b689b7d489.shtml) .
Corriere della Sera. Archived from the original (http://www.corriere.it/politica/13_agosto_01/berlusco
ni-cassazione-sentenza_fd399324-fa87-11e2-9aaf-71b689b7d489.shtml)
on 25 April 2014.
Retrieved 2 August 2013.
230. Nardelli, Alberto (2 August 2013). "Silvio Berlusconi sentence: Is this the end for 'Il Cavaliere'?" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20140422035216/http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/02/world/europe/silvio-be
rlusconi-sentence-analysis/) . CNN. Archived from the original (http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/02/w
orld/europe/silvio-berlusconi-sentence-analysis/)
on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
231. Agnew, Paddy (5 August 2013). "Protesters rally in Rome against ruling on Berlusconi" (https://web.
archive.org/web/20131004215837/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/protesters-rally-i
n-rome-against-ruling-on-berlusconi-1.1484565) . The Irish Times. Archived from the original (http
s://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/protesters-rally-in-rome-against-ruling-on-berlusconi-1.1
484565)
on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
232. "Berlusconi allies hit out over president's lifetime senator snub" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130
905063423/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/63b5423e-11ac-11e3-a14c-00144feabdc0.html) .
Financial Times. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/63b5423
e-11ac-11e3-a14c-00144feabdc0.html)
on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
233. Hornby, Catherine (24 August 2013). "Berlusconi's party says his removal from parliament is
'unthinkable' " (https://web.archive.org/web/20130929031335/https://www.reuters.com/article/201
3/08/24/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE97N0AN20130824) . Reuters. Archived from the original (http
s://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE97N0AN20130824)
2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
on 29 September
234. Day, Michael (22 August 2013). " 'We won't be blackmailed': Italy's fragile coalition government close
to collapse as centre-left prime minister Enrico Letta warns People of Freedom party that he won't
buckle over Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131214071809/http://www.independe
nt.co.uk/news/world/europe/we-wont-be-blackmailed-italys-fragile-coalition-government-close-to-coll
apse-as-centreleft-prime-minister-enrico-letta-warns-people-of-freedom-party-that-he-wont-buckle-ov
er-silvio-berlusconi-8780580.html) . The Independent. London. Archived from the original (https://
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/we-wont-be-blackmailed-italys-fragile-coalition-governm
ent-close-to-collapse-as-centreleft-prime-minister-enrico-letta-warns-people-of-freedom-party-that-hewont-buckle-over-silvio-berlusconi-8780580.html)
on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 10 September
2013.
235. "Berlusconi allies step up threats over Italian Senate ruling" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130921
055833/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE9890QJ201309
10) . Reuters. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i
taly-berlusconi-idUSBRE9890QJ20130910)
on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
236. "Italian lawmakers delay showdown over Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013092105531
5/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE9891H820130910) .
Reuters. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-be
rlusconi-idUSBRE9891H820130910)
on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
237. "Berlusconi's MPs threaten mass walk-out" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131228104427/http://w
ww.smh.com.au/world/berlusconis-mps-threaten-mass-walkout-20130926-2ufyg.html) . The
Sydney Morning Herald. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.smh.com.au/
world/berlusconis-mps-threaten-mass-walkout-20130926-2ufyg.html#ixzz2fzF81oorfor)
on 28
December 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
238. "Italy Senate Committee Votes in Favor of Ousting Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/201310
12191402/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304176904579115243180602098.ht
ml) . The Wall Street Journal. 4 October 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.wsj.com/art
icles/italy-senate-committee-votes-in-favor-of-ousting-berlusconi-1380899168)
on 12 October
2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
239. "Full Italian Senate Vote Looms on Berlusconi Expulsion" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013101506
1740/http://www.voanews.com/content/full-italian-senate-vote-looms-on-berlusconi-expulsion/1763
441.html) . Voice of America. 4 October 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.voanews.co
m/content/full-italian-senate-vote-looms-on-berlusconi-expulsion/1763441.html)
on 15 October
2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
240. "Forfeiture Berlusconi. Postponement of date and secret ballot. PD: "It may be obvious." PDL:
"Barbarians" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20140429203335/http://www.repubblica.it/politica/201
3/10/15/news/giunta_regolamento_senato_voto_berlusconi-68621027/) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 15 October 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2013/10/15/
news/giunta_regolamento_senato_voto_berlusconi-68621027/)
15 October 2013.
on 29 April 2014. Retrieved
241. "Berlusconi, missing date for forfeiture vote in the Senate, likely in November" (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20150402094440/http://it.reuters.com/article/topNews/idITMIE99E02W20131015)
(in
Italian). Reuters Italia. 15 October 2013. Archived from the original (http://it.reuters.com/article/top
News/idITMIE99E02W20131015)
on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
242. "Decadenza di Berlusconi, in Senato la decisione avverrà col voto palese" (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20131101202648/http://www.lastampa.it/2013/10/30/italia/politica/decadenza-di-berlusconi-lagiunta-decide-sul-voto-MewbsYM0O0yHzvzC1JfsdK/pagina.html) . La Stampa (in Italian). 30
October 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.lastampa.it/2013/10/30/italia/politica/decade
nza-di-berlusconi-la-giunta-decide-sul-voto-MewbsYM0O0yHzvzC1JfsdK/pagina.html)
on 1
November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
243. "Italian Senate votes to expel Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140301122236/http://ww
w.cnn.com/2013/11/27/world/europe/italy-berlusconi/) . CNN. 27 November 2013. Archived from
the original (http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/27/world/europe/italy-berlusconi/)
on 1 March 2014.
Retrieved 27 November 2013.
244. "Italy ponders Silvio Berlusconi community service request" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131017
052309/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24525062) . BBC News. 14 October 2013.
Archived from the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24525062)
on 17 October
2013.
245. "Diritti tv, Cassazione conferma 2 anni di interdizione per Silvio Berlusconi" (http://www.ilsole24ore.c
om/art/notizie/2014-03-18/diritti-tv-pg-cassazione-chiede-conferma-2-anni-interdizione-berlusconi-1
62829.shtml?uuid=ABeGKu3)
(in Italian). Il Sole 24 ORE. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March
2014.
246. "Court bans Berlusconi from parliament for two years" (https://web.archive.org/web/201404160305
23/http://www.france24.com/en/20131019-berlusconi-banned-parliament-two-years-italy-tax-frau
d/) . France 24. 19 October 2013. Archived from the original (http://www.france24.com/en/20131
019-berlusconi-banned-parliament-two-years-italy-tax-fraud)
on 16 April 2014.
247. "Italy court bans Berlusconi from public office for two years" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013102
2064211/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/19/us-italy-berlusconi-idUSBRE99I01T201310
19) . Reuters. 19 October 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ital
y-berlusconi-idUSBRE99I01T20131019)
on 22 October 2013.
248. "Berlusconi begins one-year community sentence" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-2733
6754) . BBC. 9 May 2014.
249. Giuffrida, Angela (22 November 2017). "Silvio Berlusconi takes public office ban to human rights
court" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/22/silvio-berlusconi-appeal-against-public-o
ffice-ban-reaches-echr) . The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
250. Mediaset, Berlusconi condannato (http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2013/08/01/news/mediaset_ca
ssazione_berlusconi_condannato_annullata_interdizione-64133345/?ref=HREA-1) , La Repubblica
online Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140320175556/http://www.repubblica.it/politica/20
13/08/01/news/mediaset_cassazione_berlusconi_condannato_annullata_interdizione-64133345/?re
f=HREA-1)
20 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
251. Ilaria Polleschi, Silvia Aloisi (July 2014). "Italy appeals court clears Berlusconi in sex trial" (https://w
ww.reuters.com/article/uk-italy-berlusconi/italy-appeals-court-clears-berlusconi-in-sex-trial-idUKKBN
0FN1A420140718) . Reuters.
252. Redazione ANSA (December 2014). "Prosecutors appeal Berlusconi acquittal in Ruby case" (http://w
ww.ansa.it/english/news/2014/12/01/prosecutors-appeal-berlusconi-acquittal-in-ruby-case_e5b84c
5f-142d-40ad-b0b9-5a52b5e5e879.html) . AGENZIA ANSA.
253. Travaglio, Marco; Gomez, Peter (2005). Inciucio. RCS MediaGroup. ISBN 978-88-17-01020-7.
254. Vespa, Bruno (2004). Storia d'Italia da Mussolini a Berlusconi. RAI Eri – Mondadori.
255. "No alle leggi ad personam" (https://archive.today/20120920204139/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/rep
ubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/08/05/no-alle-leggi-ad-personam.html) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 5 August 2002. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/r
epubblica/2002/08/05/no-alle-leggi-ad-personam.html)
on 20 September 2012.
256. "Intini: no alle leggi ad personam" (https://archive.today/20120920204148/http://ricerca.repubblica.i
t/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/05/05/intini-no-alle-leggi-ad-personam.html) . la Repubblica
(in Italian). 5 May 2003. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/r
epubblica/2003/05/05/intini-no-alle-leggi-ad-personam.html)
on 20 September 2012.
257. "Via le leggi ad personam" (https://archive.today/20120920204142/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repu
bblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/05/27/via-le-leggi-ad-personam.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian).
27 May 2006. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/
2006/05/27/via-le-leggi-ad-personam.html)
on 20 September 2012.
258. "Berlusconi getta la maschera" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111003060011/http://tv.repubblica.i
t/home_page.php?playmode=player&cont_id=21342&ref=search)
(in Italian). Repubblica Radio
TV. 17 June 2008. Archived from the original (http://tv.repubblica.it/home_page.php?playmode=pla
yer&cont_id=21342&ref=search)
on 3 October 2011.
259. Hine, David (2002). Silvio Berlusconi, i media e il conflitto di interesse. Il Mulino. pp. 291–307.
260. "Global Press Freedom Deteriorates – Proportion of Global Population With Access to Free Media
Plunges to New Low Italy Drops to "Partly Free" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20040503211418/ht
tp://www.freedomhouse.org/media/pressrel/042804.htm) . Archived from the original (https://ww
w.freedomhouse.org/media/pressrel/042804.htm)
on 3 May 2004.
261. "Italy – 2004 Annual report" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090302045453/http://www.rsf.org/arti
cle.php3?id_article=10148) . Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original (http://www.rs
f.org/article.php3?id_article=10148)
on 2 March 2009.
262. "Journalists in New Protest as Berlusconi's Grip on Italian Media Becomes A Stranglehold" (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20040927133724/http://www.ifj-europe.org/default.asp?index=2451&Langua
ge=EN) . Archived from the original (http://www.ifj-europe.org/default.asp?index=2451&Languag
e=EN)
on 27 September 2004.
263. Luciano Violante addressing the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, 28 February 2002)
264. Peter Gomez, Marco Travaglio (2005). Inciucio. Bur. ISBN 9788817010207.
265. (in Italian) Inciucio. Peter Gomez and Marco Travaglio, 2005, RCS MediaGroup, ISBN 978-88-1701020-7
266. "Media pluralism more threatened than ever" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080222094910/http://
www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=3284) . Reporters Without Borders. 6 August 2002. Archived
from the original (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=3284)
on 22 February 2008.
267. Gomez, Peter; Travaglio, Marco (2004). Regime. Milan: RCS MediaGroup. pp. 28–258.
268. "RAI suspends satirical programme after lawsuit by Berlusconi-owned company" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20071205152755/http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=8587) . Reporters Without
Borders. 22 November 2003. Archived from the original (http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article
=8587)
on 5 December 2007.
269. "Le trappole della par condicio" (https://archive.today/20120716051838/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/
repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/02/15/le-trappole-della-par-condicio.html) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 15 February 2006. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivi
o/repubblica/2006/02/15/le-trappole-della-par-condicio.html)
on 16 July 2012.
270. "Il Bavaglio Del Polo Alla Rai" (https://archive.today/20120721134212/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/re
pubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/05/09/il-bavaglio-del-polo-alla-rai.html) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 9 May 2002. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repu
bblica/2002/05/09/il-bavaglio-del-polo-alla-rai.html)
on 21 July 2012.
271. "Berlusconi walks off show after a testy exchange" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140417120030/
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/world/europe/12iht-italy-5839062.html) . International
Herald Tribune. 12 March 2006. Archived from the original (https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/
world/europe/12iht-italy-5839062.html)
on 17 April 2014.
272. Stille, Alexander (23 November 2008). "Silvio Berlusconi: Yes, yes, yes, Prime Minister" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20110629120529/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article51882
89.ece) . The New Yorker /The Times. London. Archived from the original (http://www.timesonline.c
o.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5188289.ece)
on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
273. "Muzzling the messengers" (https://web.archive.org/web/20091004235006/http://www.economist.c
om/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14560942) . The Economist. 1 October 2008.
Archived from the original (http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=145
60942)
on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
274. "L'Espresso calls in lawyers on Berlusconi remarks" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090907110959/
https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSLO59656320090624) . Reuters.
24 June 2009. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomN
ews/idUSLO59656320090624)
on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
275. "Espresso group to sue Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090626195319/http://www.ans
a.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-06-24_124359124.html) . ANSA. 24 June 2009.
Archived from the original (http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-06-24_1243
59124.html)
on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
276. "Berlusconi contro Repubblica "Ribellatevi ai giornali anti-italiani" " (https://web.archive.org/web/201
31004232904/http://www.repubblica.it/2009/10/sezioni/politica/giustizia-13/marcegaglia-berlusco
ni/marcegaglia-berlusconi.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 12 October 2009. Archived from the
original (http://www.repubblica.it/2009/10/sezioni/politica/giustizia-13/marcegaglia-berlusconi/mar
cegaglia-berlusconi.html)
on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
277. "Reporters Without Borders in Rome as Berlusconi gets closer to being declared a "Predator" " (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20091008095227/http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=3
4640) . Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original (http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=
article&id_article=34640)
on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
278. Broder, David (17 July 2020). "The Rise of Italy's Populist Right Is a Bleak Warning From the Recent
Past" (https://jacobinmag.com/2020/07/italy-populist-right-berlusconi-salvini) . Jacobin. Retrieved
18 July 2020.
279. Ginsborg, Paul (2003). Italy and Its Discontents. London: Penguin Books. p. 318.
280. "An open letter to Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20030817191337/http://www.hebi
g.org/blogs/archives/main/001105.php) . Archived from the original (http://www.hebig.org/blogs/
archives/main/001105.php)
on 17 August 2003.
281. "Fit to run Italy?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100526212307/http://www.economist.com/displa
ystory.cfm?story_id=593654) . The Economist. 26 April 2001. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=593654)
on 26 May 2010.
282. Lane, David (2005). Berlusconi's Shadow. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-101770-9.
283. "Document from the Milan court of justice" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131020005213/http://w
ww.economist.com/media/pdf/20080905122118632.pdf)
(PDF) . The Economist. Archived from
the original (http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/20080905122118632.pdf)
(PDF) on 20
October 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
284. "The man who screwed an entire country" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110818204058/http://ww
w.economist.com/node/18805327) . The Economist. Archived from the original (http://www.econo
mist.com/node/18805327)
on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
285. "Per Silvio Berlusconi 18 salvacondotti in 15 anni" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131110112032/h
ttp://www.repubblica.it/2009/11/sezioni/politica/giustizia-18/inchiesta-davanzo/inchiesta-davanz
o.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 23 November 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.repu
bblica.it/2009/11/sezioni/politica/giustizia-18/inchiesta-davanzo/inchiesta-davanzo.html)
on 10
November 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
286. "Italy opposition protest for second day over decree" (https://web.archive.org/web/2011051121024
7/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Italy_opposition_protest_for_second_day_over_d
ecree.html?cid=8432170) . swissinfo. 7 March 2010. Archived from the original (http://www.swissi
nfo.ch/eng/news/international/Italy_opposition_protest_for_second_day_over_decree.html?cid=84
32170)
on 11 May 2011.
287. "Italy opposition protests at ballot decree" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110511210254/http://w
ww.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Italy_opposition_protests_at_ballot_decree.html?cid=842
8120) . swissinfo. 6 March 2010. Archived from the original (http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/in
ternational/Italy_opposition_protests_at_ballot_decree.html?cid=8428120)
on 11 May 2011.
288. "Married to the Mob" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115303/http://www.allvoices.com/s/ev
ent-6350957/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mb3JlaWducG9saWN5LmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy8yMDEwLzA3LzE2L2
1hcnJpZWRfdG9fdGhlX21vYg%3D%3D) . Archived from the original (http://www.allvoices.com/s/ev
ent-6350957/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mb3JlaWducG9saWN5LmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy8yMDEwLzA3LzE2L2
1hcnJpZWRfdG9fdGhlX21vYg==)
on 7 July 2011., by Alexander Stille, Foreign Policy, 16 July 2010
289. "An Italian Story" (http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=587107) . The
Economist. 28 April 2001., The Economist, 26 April 2001
290. "Berlusconi accused of Mafia links" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140413150859/http://news.bb
c.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2638609.stm) . BBC News. 8 January 2003. Archived from the original (htt
p://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2638609.stm)
on 13 April 2014., BBC News, 8 January 2003
291. "Accusa e difesa del senatore "M" Una vicenda lunga dieci anni" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131
004232611/http://www.repubblica.it/2004/l/sezioni/politica/dellutri/dellusentenza/dellusentenza.
html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 11 December 2004. Archived from the original (http://www.repubb
lica.it/2004/l/sezioni/politica/dellutri/dellusentenza/dellusentenza.html)
on 4 October 2013.
292. "UK.reuters.com" (http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6AI5D120101119) . Reuters. 19 November
2010., Reuters UK, 19 November 2010
293. Willan, Philip (10 May 2001). "Berlusconi friend on trial for 'aiding Mafia' " (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20071003022950/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0%2C4273%2C4183973%2C00.h
tml) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/Archive/Ar
ticle/0,4273,4183973,00.html)
on 3 October 2007., The Guardian, 10 May 2001
294. Willan, Philip (8 January 2003). "Berlusconi aide 'struck deal with mafia' " (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20130706165131/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jan/08/italy.philipwillan) . The
Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/08/ita
ly.philipwillan)
on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
295. Willan, Philip (12 January 2003). "Mafia supergrass fingers Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20121017052906/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jan/12/italy.philipwillan) . The
Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/12/ita
ly.philipwillan)
on 17 October 2012., The Observer, 12 January 2003
296. Willan, Philip (5 December 2002). "Berlusconi implicated in deal with godfathers" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20090827151630/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/dec/05/italy.philipwillan) .
The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/dec/0
5/italy.philipwillan)
on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
297. "Giuffré: il boss Graviano era il tramite con Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/201310050147
24/http://www.repubblica.it/online/cronaca/giuffredue/verbale/verbale.html) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 3 December 2002. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/online/cronaca/giuff
redue/verbale/verbale.html)
on 5 October 2013.
298. "Giuffrè, gli obiettivi della confessione" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000754/http://www.r
epubblica.it/online/cronaca/giuffredue/patto/patto.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 4 December
2002. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/online/cronaca/giuffredue/patto/patto.
html)
on 5 October 2013.
299. "Lawyer rejects turncoat's claims linking Berlusconi to mafia" (https://web.archive.org/web/2014041
5054102/http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=3.0.3909367513) . Archived from
the original (http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=3.0.3909367513)
on 15 April
2014., Adnkronos International, 23 October 2009
300. "Storm over Berlusconi 'inferior Muslims' remarks" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110911071230/h
ttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/storm-over-berlusconi--inferior-muslims-remarks-6
70971.html) . The Independent. UK. 27 September 2001. Archived from the original (https://www.i
ndependent.co.uk/news/world/europe/storm-over-berlusconi--inferior-muslims-remarks-670971.ht
ml)
on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
301. "Racist vomit from Italy's PM Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120418030428/http://ww
w.wsws.org/articles/2001/sep2001/ital-s29.shtml) . WSWS. 29 September 2001. Archived from
the original (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/sep2001/ital-s29.shtml)
on 18 April 2012.
302. "EU deplores 'dangerous' Islam jibe" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131004230100/http://news.bb
c.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1565664.stm) . BBC News. 27 September 2001. Archived from the
original (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1565664.stm)
on 4 October 2013.
303. Henneberger, Melinda (29 September 2001). "Berlusconi Stands By Remarks on Islam" (https://web.
archive.org/web/20131005010702/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/29/world/berlusconi-stands-b
y-remarks-on-islam.html) . The New York Times. Archived from the original (https://www.nytimes.c
om/2001/09/29/world/berlusconi-stands-by-remarks-on-islam.html)
30 March 2010.
on 5 October 2013. Retrieved
304. Day, Michael (8 February 2008). "Italy faces constitutional crisis over coma woman" (https://web.arc
hive.org/web/20110424042545/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/08/englaro-italy-vatic
an) . The Guardian. London, UK. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2
009/feb/08/englaro-italy-vatican)
on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
305. "Italy faces constitutional crisis over coma woman" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/
08/englaro-italy-vatican) . The Guardian. February 2009.
306. "Italia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070213051108/http://www.amnesty.it/pressroom/ra2006/it
alia.html?page=ra2006)
(in Italian). Amnesty International. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.amnesty.it/pressroom/ra2006/italia.html?page=ra2006)
on 13 February 2007.
307. "Immigrazione, Parlamento Ue chiede la modifica della legge Bossi-Fini" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20131026020208/http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/10/23/immigrazione-parlamento-ue-modi
ficare-norme-che-infliggono-sanzioni-a-chi-aiuta/754022/) . Il Fatto Quotidiano. 23 October 2013.
Archived from the original (http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/10/23/immigrazione-parlamento-ue
-modificare-norme-che-infliggono-sanzioni-a-chi-aiuta/754022/)
on 26 October 2013.
308. Siret, Mal. "Editorial: Touched by Crassness" (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_arti
cle/article6062638.ece) . The Times. London. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
309. "Berlusconi in EU 'Nazi' slur" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090611004851/http://news.bbc.co.uk/
1/hi/world/europe/3037386.stm) . BBC News. 2 July 2003. Archived from the original (http://new
s.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3037386.stm)
on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
310. "Berlusconi, lite a Strasburgo" (https://archive.today/20120716044712/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/re
pubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/07/03/berlusconi-lite-strasburgo.html) . la Repubblica (in
Italian). 3 July 2003. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repu
bblica/2003/07/03/berlusconi-lite-strasburgo.html)
on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
311. "Berlusconi vaunts Italy's secretaries" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080415214307/http://news.b
bc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3137406.stm) . BBC News. 24 September 2003. Archived from the
original (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3137406.stm)
on 15 April 2008. Retrieved
2 September 2011.
312. Squires, Nick (4 April 2009). "Silvio Berlusconi's top 10 gaffes and pranks" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20131027133405/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5106644/Silvio-B
erlusconis-top-10-gaffes-and-pranks.html) . The Daily Telegraph. UK. Archived from the original (ht
tps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5106644/Silvio-Berlusconis-top-10-gaffesand-pranks.html)
on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
313. " 'Playboy' Berlusconi irks Finland" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110717225805/http://news.bbc.c
o.uk/2/hi/europe/4122596.stm) . BBC News. 23 June 2005. Archived from the original (http://new
s.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4122596.stm)
on 17 July 2011.
314. "Halonen and Berlusconi meet in Rome" (http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/09/halonen_and_berlusconi
_meet_in_rome_1965672.html) . YLE.fi. 8 September 2010.
315. "Menu of Kotipizza pizza chain, note the Berlusconi pizza" (https://web.archive.org/web/201105100
91217/http://www.kotipizza.fi/Suomeksi/Menu/Pizzat) . Kotipizza.fi. Archived from the original (ht
tp://www.kotipizza.fi/Suomeksi/Menu/Pizzat)
on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
316. [1] (http://www.care2.com/news/go/671026)
317. Sanminiatelli, Maria (29 March 2006). "Chinese angered by Italian premier's allegation that country
boiled babies" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010136/http://seattletimes.com/html/nation
world/2002896399_babies29.html) . The Seattle Times. Archived from the original (http://seattleti
mes.com/html/nationworld/2002896399_babies29.html)
on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June
2013.
318. "Berlusconi baby gaffe riles China" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140401193542/http://news.bbc.
co.uk/2/hi/europe/4857226.stm) . BBC News. 29 March 2006. Archived from the original (http://n
ews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4857226.stm)
on 1 April 2014.
319. "Berlusconi: Left has uglier women" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131008003855/http://news.bb
c.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7338415.stm) . BBC News. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original (http://ne
ws.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7338415.stm)
on 8 October 2013.
320. "Berlusconi 'regaña' a Zapatero: 'Su Gobierno es demasiado rosa' " (https://web.archive.org/web/201
31004234950/http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/04/15/internacional/1208272351.html) . El
Mundo (in Spanish). 15 April 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/200
8/04/15/internacional/1208272351.html)
on 4 October 2013.
321. "Berlusconi e Putin in Sardegna—TG3" (https://web.archive.org/web/20151118193419/https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=XpNx5-9ZOyQ) . Archived from the original (https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=XpNx5-9ZOyQ)
on 18 November 2015 – via YouTube.
322. "Berlusconi to lobby EU on behalf of Russian travellers" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090627235
124/http://russiatoday.ru/Top_News/2008-04-20/Berlusconi_to_lobby_EU_on_behalf_of_Russian_tra
vellers.html) . RT (TV network). 20 April 2008. Archived from the original (http://russiatoday.ru/Top
_News/2008-04-20/Berlusconi_to_lobby_EU_on_behalf_of_Russian_travellers.html)
on 27 June
2009. "See embedded video"
323. "Berlusconi Obama Suntanned" (https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211029/ErsgFMFh
oPQ) . Repubblica Radio TV. Archived from the original (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErsgF
MFhoPQ)
on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
324. Sisto, Alberto (6 November 2008). "Italy's Berlusconi hails "suntanned" Obama" (https://web.archive.
org/web/20090304031839/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE4A562120081106) .
Reuters. Archived from the original (http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE4A5621200
81106)
on 4 March 2009.
325. "L'abbronzato fa il giro del mondo" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111003060054/http://tv.repubbli
ca.it/copertina/l-abbronzato-fa-il-giro-del-mondo/26102?video) . Repubblica Radio TV. 7 November
2008. Archived from the original (http://tv.repubblica.it/copertina/l-abbronzato-fa-il-giro-del-mondo/
26102?video)
on 3 October 2011.
326. Squires, Nick (26 March 2009). "Silvio Berlusconi says he is 'paler' than Barack Obama" (https://web.
archive.org/web/20131115203828/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5055
633/Silvio-Berlusconi-says-he-is-paler-than-Barack-Obama.html) . The Daily Telegraph. London.
Archived from the original (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5055633/Silv
io-Berlusconi-says-he-is-paler-than-Barack-Obama.html)
on 15 November 2013. Retrieved
30 March 2010.
327. Squires, Nick (4 April 2009). "Silvio Berlusconi criticised for 'pretty girl' rape comment" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20131127152020/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/433981
7/Silvio-Berlusconi-criticised-for-pretty-girl-rape-comment.html) . The Daily Telegraph. London.
Archived from the original (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/4339817/Silv
io-Berlusconi-criticised-for-pretty-girl-rape-comment.html)
on 27 November 2013. Retrieved
30 March 2010.
328. Hooper, John (8 April 2009). "Berlusconi: Italy earthquake victims should view experience as a
camping weekend" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121117025058/http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl
d/2009/apr/08/italy-earthquake-berlusconi) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (h
ttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/08/italy-earthquake-berlusconi)
on 17 November
2012. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
329. "Silvio Berlusconi makes third quake gaffe when he admires black priest's tan" (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20131204125638/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5170438/Silvio
-Berlusconi-makes-third-quake-gaffe-when-he-admires-black-priests-tan.html) . The Daily Telegraph.
London. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/eu
rope/italy/5170438/Silvio-Berlusconi-makes-third-quake-gaffe-when-he-admires-black-priests-tan.h
tml)
on 4 December 2013.
330. Kington, Tom (3 October 2010). "Silvio Berlusconi condemned by Vatican newspaper for 'deplorable'
jokes" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101210123730/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/
03/silvio-berlusconi-under-fire-jokes) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://w
ww.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/03/silvio-berlusconi-under-fire-jokes)
on 10 December 2010.
331. "Berlusconi and girls" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110604094235/http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=d1RX_ppWuRg) . 1 November 2010. Archived from the original (https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=d1RX_ppWuRg)
on 4 June 2011 – via YouTube.
332. "Berlusconi: "Meglio guardare le belle ragazze che essere gay" " (https://web.archive.org/web/201110
05062234/http://www.libero-news.it/news/522513/Berlusconi___Meglio_guardare_le_belle_ragazze_c
he_essere_gay_.html) . Libero. 2 November 2010. Archived from the original (http://www.libero-new
s.it/news/522513/Berlusconi___Meglio_guardare_le_belle_ragazze_che_essere_gay_.html)
October 2011.
on 5
333. In September 2011 in a phone call, he said that the German First Minister Angela Merkel has an
Unfuckable lard Ass. Del Porto, Dario; Sannino, Conchita (2 September 2011). "Lo sfogo del premier:
"Paese di merda. Tra qualche mese me ne vado" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131004230938/ht
tp://inchieste.repubblica.it/it/repubblica/rep-it/2011/09/02/news/sfogo_berlusconi_verbali-21135
410/) . la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original (http://inchieste.repubblica.it/it/repubb
lica/rep-it/2011/09/02/news/sfogo_berlusconi_verbali-21135410/)
on 4 October 2013. Retrieved
25 September 2011.
334. "Berlusconi defends Mussolini, draws outrage from political left" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131
229170117/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/27/us-italy-berlusconi-mussolini-idUSBRE90Q
0B620130127) . Reuters. 27 January 2013. Archived from the original (https://www.reuters.com/a
rticle/us-italy-berlusconi-mussolini-idUSBRE90Q0B620130127)
on 29 December 2013.
335. Friedman, Alan (20 January 2000). "Bettino Craxi, Italian Socialist Leader, Dies in Tunisiader" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20131005013521/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/20/news/20iht-obit.2.
t_32.html?scp=2&sq=craxi&st=cse) . The New York Times. Archived from the original (https://www.
nytimes.com/2000/01/20/news/20iht-obit.2.t_32.html?scp=2&sq=craxi&st=cse)
on 5 October
2013. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
336. Foto Contro la persecuzione dei magistrati, arriva "l'esercito di Silvio" per difendere il Cavaliere (htt
p://www.repubblica.it/politica/2013/05/28/foto/esercito_silvio_berlusconi-59831988/1/#1) . la
Repubblica.it (28 May 2013). Retrieved 4 August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2014
0501004715/http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2013/05/28/foto/esercito_silvio_berlusconi-5983198
8/1/#1)
1 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
337. Esercito di Silvio (http://www.esercitodellaliberta.it/) . Esercitodellaliberta.it (16 June 2013).
Retrieved 4 August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140410105911/http://www.eser
citodellaliberta.it/)
10 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
338. Nasce l'esercito di Silvio, sito per arruolare "difensori" di Berlusconi dai giudici (http://www.ilsole24or
e.com/art/notizie/2013-05-28/nasce-esercito-silvio-sito-145922.shtml) . Il Sole 24 ORE. Retrieved 4
August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140512220016/http://www.ilsole24ore.com/
art/notizie/2013-05-28/nasce-esercito-silvio-sito-145922.shtml)
12 May 2014 at the Wayback
Machine
339. Ticinonews – È nato l'esercito di Berlusconi (http://www.ticinonews.ch/articolo.aspx?id=300730&rub
rica=15) . Ticinonews.ch (28 May 2013). Retrieved 4 August 2013. Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20131004234954/http://www.ticinonews.ch/articolo.aspx?id=300730&rubrica=15)
4
October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
340. "Inchiesta Berlusconi "Saccà va sospeso" L'ex premier: "Solleva il morale del Capo" " (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20131005005713/http://www.repubblica.it/2007/12/sezioni/politica/berlusconi-indagat
o/berlusconi-regime/berlusconi-regime.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 13 December 2007.
Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/2007/12/sezioni/politica/berlusconi-indagato/b
erlusconi-regime/berlusconi-regime.html)
on 5 October 2013.
341. "Berlusconi indagato per corruzione" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234350/http://www.cor
riere.it/cronache/07_dicembre_12/berlusconi_indagato_corruzione_sacca_a47dd26e-a884-11dc-8e8
6-0003ba99c53b.shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 12 December 2007. Archived from the
original (http://www.corriere.it/cronache/07_dicembre_12/berlusconi_indagato_corruzione_sacca_a4
7dd26e-a884-11dc-8e86-0003ba99c53b.shtml)
on 4 October 2013.
342. "Pronto Silvio, sono Saccà" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130622044420/http://espresso.repubbli
ca.it/dettaglio/pronto-silvio-sono-sacca/1917587) . L'espresso (in Italian). Italy. 20 December
2007. Archived from the original (http://espresso.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Pronto-Silvio-sono-Sacca/1
917587)
on 22 June 2013.
343. "Berlusconi: "In Rai tutti raccomandati" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131005002333/http://ww
w.corriere.it/politica/07_dicembre_20/berlusconi_rai_sinistra_4933f5e8-aefe-11dc-8fe5-0003ba99c53
b.shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 20 December 2007. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.corriere.it/politica/07_dicembre_20/berlusconi_rai_sinistra_4933f5e8-aefe-11dc-8fe5-0003ba99c53
b.shtml)
on 5 October 2013.
344. "Metro UK – 31/10/2011 digital edition" (https://archive.today/20131004235614/http://e-edition.me
tro.co.uk/2011/10/31/index.html?p=11) . E-edition.metro.co.uk. Archived from the original (http://
e-edition.metro.co.uk/2011/10/31/index.html)
on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
345. Pisa, Nick (30 October 2011). "Silvio Berlusconi named on US government report on people
trafficking" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131115145848/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world
news/silvio-berlusconi/8858275/Silvio-Berlusconi-named-on-US-government-report-on-people-traffick
ing.html) . The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/n
ews/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/8858275/Silvio-Berlusconi-named-on-US-government-report-on-peo
ple-trafficking.html)
on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
346. "Berlusconi demands wife apology" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090510085717/http://news.bb
c.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8032392.stm) . BBC News. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original (htt
p://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8032392.stm)
on 10 May 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
347. "Berlusconi vien di notte per gli auguri a Noemi" (https://archive.today/20130218104550/http://ricer
ca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2009/04/28/berlusconi-vien-di-notte-per-gli-auguri.
html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 28 April 2009. Archived from the original (http://ricerca.repubblic
a.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2009/04/28/berlusconi-vien-di-notte-per-gli-auguri.html)
on 18
February 2013.
348. "Blitz di Berlusconi a Casoria per i 18 anni della figlia di un imprenditore campano" (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20131004230241/http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/politica/2009/
28-aprile-2009/blitz-berlusconi-casoria-18-anni-figlia-un-imprenditore-campano-1501302597082.s
html) . Corriere del Mezzogiorno (in Italian). Italy. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original (http://
corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/politica/2009/28-aprile-2009/blitz-berlusconi-casori
a-18-anni-figlia-un-imprenditore-campano-1501302597082.shtml)
on 4 October 2013.
349. "Berlusconi's wife to divorce him" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090508025112/http://news.bbc.c
o.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8031520.stm) . BBC News. 3 May 2009. Archived from the original (htt
p://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8031520.stm)
on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
350. Owen, Richard; Hanley, Anne (4 May 2009). "Wife of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sues
for divorce" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110629120547/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/
world/europe/article6216767.ece) . The Times. London. Archived from the original (http://www.tim
esonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6216767.ece)
on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 May
2009.
351. "Ecco la bella Noemi, diciottenne che chiama Berlusconi "papi" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20140
328101157/http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/politica/2009/28-aprile-2009/ec
co-noemi-diciottenne-che-chiama-berlusconi-papi-1501304940417.shtml) . Corriere del
Mezzogiorno (in Italian). Italy. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original (http://corrieredelmezzogior
no.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/politica/2009/28-aprile-2009/ecco-noemi-diciottenne-che-chiama-berlus
coni-papi-1501304940417.shtml)
on 28 March 2014.
352. "Ten questions to Mr. Berlusconi. The inconsistencies of a political case" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20131016171138/http://temi.repubblica.it/repubblica-ten-questions-to-berlusconi/2009/05/24/th
e-inconsistencies-of-a-political-case/) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 14 May 2009. Archived from the
original (http://temi.repubblica.it/repubblica-ten-questions-to-berlusconi/2009/05/24/the-inconsiste
ncies-of-a-political-case/)
on 16 October 2013.
353. Donadio, Rachel (28 May 2009). "Prime Minister's Escapades Finally Raise Eyebrows" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20140513115919/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/world/europe/29berlusco
ni.html) . The New York Times. Archived from the original (https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/
world/europe/29berlusconi.html)
on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
354. "Così papi Berlusconi entrò nella vita di Noemi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012440/htt
p://www.repubblica.it/2009/05/sezioni/politica/berlusconi-divorzio-2/parla-gino/parla-gino.html) .
la Repubblica (in Italian). 24 May 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.repubblica.it/2009/0
5/sezioni/politica/berlusconi-divorzio-2/parla-gino/parla-gino.html)
on 5 October 2013.
355. "Macché amante. Vorrei parlare con Veronica Lario" (https://web.archive.org/web/2014051222331
7/http://www1.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200905articoli/44139girata.asp) . La
Stampa (in Italian). Italy. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.lastampa.it/redazion
e/cmsSezioni/politica/200905articoli/44139girata.asp)
on 12 May 2014.
356. "I Never Had Spicy Relations With Noemi. Ι Swear on My Children" (https://web.archive.org/web/201
40512225035/http://www.corriere.it/english/09_maggio_29/berlusconi_4939b106-4c49-11de-b7be00144f02aabc.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.co
rriere.it/english/09_maggio_29/berlusconi_4939b106-4c49-11de-b7be-00144f02aabc.shtml)
12 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
on
357. Follain, John (28 June 2009). "Silvio Berlusconi brands sex claims by Patrizia D'Addario as trash" (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20110629120639/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/
article6590890.ece) . The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original (http://www.timesonli
ne.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6590890.ece)
on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
358. "Incontri e candidatura Ecco la mia verità" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131012100213/http://w
ww.corriere.it/politica/09_giugno_17/patrizia_sarzanini_intervista_b943f0c0-5afd-11de-8305-00144f
02aabc.shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 17 June 2009. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.corriere.it/politica/09_giugno_17/patrizia_sarzanini_intervista_b943f0c0-5afd-11de-8305-00144f0
2aabc.shtml)
on 12 October 2013.
359. "D'Addario agisce su mandato preciso" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232453/http://www.c
orriere.it/politica/09_giugno_23/berlusconi_veronica_chi_f5a40176-5ffe-11de-bd53-00144f02aabc.
shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 23 June 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.corrie
re.it/politica/09_giugno_23/berlusconi_veronica_chi_f5a40176-5ffe-11de-bd53-00144f02aabc.sht
ml)
on 4 October 2013.
360. "D'Addario Denies PM's Accusation of Acting on Orders" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000
812/http://www.corriere.it/english/09_giugno_24/daddario_3ff75134-60ad-11de-9ec2-00144f02aab
c.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. 24 June 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.corriere.it/engli
sh/09_giugno_24/daddario_3ff75134-60ad-11de-9ec2-00144f02aabc.shtml)
on 5 October 2013.
Retrieved 25 June 2009.
361. "Ten new questions to Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131022003152/http://temi.
repubblica.it/repubblicaspeciale-repubblicaspeciale-ten-new-questions-to-silvio-berlusconi/2009/06/2
6/ten-new-questions-to-silvio-berlusconi/) . la Repubblica. 26 June 2009. Archived from the original
(http://temi.repubblica.it/repubblicaspeciale-repubblicaspeciale-ten-new-questions-to-silvio-berluscon
i/2009/06/26/ten-new-questions-to-silvio-berlusconi/)
on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 28 August
2009.
362. "Berlusconi to sue left-wing daily for over €1 mln" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131105142307/ht
tp://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.0.3707372087) . AKI. 28 August
2009. Archived from the original (http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.
0.3707372087)
on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
363. "Boffo, il supercensore condannato per molestie" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090831135623/ht
tp://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=377663) . il Giornale (in Italian). 28 August 2009. Archived from
the original (http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=377663)
on 31 August 2009. Retrieved
22 September 2009.
364. "Boffo: "E' una patacca". Feltri: "Ecco le carte" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20090902084440/htt
p://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=378630) . il Giornale (in Italian). 31 August 2009. Archived from the
original (http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=378630)
22 September 2009.
on 2 September 2009. Retrieved
365. "La lettera di Boffo al Card. Bagnasco" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110821003413/http://www.
avvenire.it/boffo/boffo%2Bdimissioni_200909031239587930000_200909041332052000000.htm)
. Avvenire (in Italian). Italy. 17 September 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.avvenire.it/b
offo/boffo+dimissioni_200909031239587930000_200909041332052000000.htm)
on 21 August
2011.
366. "Avvenire, Boffo lascia: "La mia vita violentata" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20090906104109/htt
p://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=379661) . il Giornale (in Italian). 4 September 2009. Archived from
the original (http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=379661)
on 6 September 2009. Retrieved
22 September 2009.
367. "Interim del giornale a Tarquinio" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110722024513/http://www.avvenir
e.it/Cronaca/SEMERARO_200909031625106270000.htm) . Avvenire (in Italian). Italy. 3 September
2009. Archived from the original (http://www.avvenire.it/Cronaca/SEMERARO_20090903162510627
0000.htm)
on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
368. "Berlusconi: Ministers not to respond to questions on gossip" (https://archive.today/201302180803
59/http://www.agi.it/english-version/italy/elenco-notizie/200909221932-pol-ren0047-berlusconi_mini
sters_not_to_respond_to_questions_on_gossip) . AGI. 22 September 2009. Archived from the
original (http://www.agi.it/english-version/italy/elenco-notizie/200909221932-pol-ren0047-berluscon
i_ministers_not_to_respond_to_questions_on_gossip)
on 18 February 2013. Retrieved
22 September 2009.
369. " "Berlusconi indignato per Annozero" E sulla Rai è scontro Cicchitto-Pd" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20131005020927/http://www.repubblica.it/2009/10/sezioni/politica/rai-5/primo-ottobre/primo-ot
tobre.html) . la Repubblica (in Italian). 1 October 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.repu
bblica.it/2009/10/sezioni/politica/rai-5/primo-ottobre/primo-ottobre.html)
on 5 October 2013.
Retrieved 2 October 2009.
370. "Call girl 'fixer' tries to gag popular TV show" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131105141527/http://
www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.0.3833543339) . AKI. 1 October 2009.
Archived from the original (http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.0.3833
543339)
on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
371. "Escort to appear on talk show" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224715/http://www.ansa.it/
web/notizie/rubriche/english/2009/09/30/visualizza_new.html_963761042.html) . ANSA. 30
September 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2009/
09/30/visualizza_new.html_963761042.html)
on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
372. "Patrizia D'Addario ospite ad "Annozero" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131005001032/http://ww
w1.lastampa.it/multimedia/multimedia.asp?p=1&pm=3&IDmsezione=9&IDalbum=21013&tipo=FOTO
GALLERY) . La Stampa (in Italian). Italy. 2 October 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.la
stampa.it/multimedia/multimedia.asp?p=1&pm=3&IDmsezione=9&IDalbum=21013&tipo=FOTOGAL
LERY#mpos)
on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
373. "D'Addario in tv: il premier sapeva che ero una escort" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013100500004
8/http://www1.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200910articoli/47861girata.asp) . La
Stampa (in Italian). Italy. 2 October 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.lastampa.it/redazi
one/cmsSezioni/politica/200910articoli/47861girata.asp)
on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October
2009.
374. "Topolanek: "Nelle foto a Villa Certosa sono io, ma è un fotomontaggio" – Corriere della Sera" (http
s://www.corriere.it/esteri/09_giugno_05/topolanek_foto_villa_ad9fee20-51ef-11de-b581-00144f02aa
bc.shtml) . Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
375. "E Berlusconi scrive al Garante "Bloccate le foto di Villa Certosa" – Corriere della Sera" (https://www.c
orriere.it/politica/09_maggio_30/berlusconi_garante_foto_784e933c-4cdd-11de-82fb-00144f02aabc.
shtml) . Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
376. "The pictures vetoed by Berlusconi" (https://elpais.com/internacional/2009/06/05/actualidad/12441
52803_850215.html) . El País (in Spanish). 4 June 2009. ISSN 1134-6582 (https://www.worldcat.o
rg/issn/1134-6582) . Retrieved 29 March 2021.
377. "Exile an option for besieged Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110628230203/http://ww
w.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/09/3061762.htm?section=justin) . Australia: ABC News. 9
November 2010. Archived from the original (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/09/3061
762.htm?section=justin)
on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
378. "Berlusconi's 'Bunga Bunga Orgies' " (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-07/si
lvio-berlusconis-bunga-bunga-parties/) , Daily Beast 7 November 2010 Retrieved 25 November
2010 Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110310055404/http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs
-and-stories/2010-11-07/silvio-berlusconis-bunga-bunga-parties)
10 March 2011 at the Wayback
Machine
379. "Prosecutors send fresh evidence for Ruby case searches: Lombardy councillor at centre of scandal
summoned" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140201205109/http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubrich
e/english/2011/01/26/visualizza_new.html_1616141984.html) . ANSA. 26 January 2011. Archived
from the original (http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2011/01/26/visualizza_new.html
_1616141984.html)
on 1 February 2014.
380. "Ruby, B. under investigation for child prostitution Videos and photos found in girl's laptop" (https://
web.archive.org/web/20140301211646/http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/01/14/ruby-b-under-in
vestigation-for-child-prostitution-videos-and-photos-found-in-girl%E2%80%99s-laptop/86481) . Il
Fatto Quotidiano. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original (http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/201
1/01/14/ruby-b-under-investigation-for-child-prostitution-videos-and-photos-found-in-girl%E2%80%9
9s-laptop/86481)
on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
381. "Governo Italiano—Rassegna stampa" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111214150134/http://rasseg
na.governo.it/testo.asp?d=55045063) . Rassegna.governo.it. Archived from the original (http://ras
segna.governo.it/testo.asp?d=55045063)
on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
382. Squires, Nick (February 2010). "Silvio Berlusconi shortlists dental hygienist as political candidate" (ht
tps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7265423/Silvio-Berlusconi-shortlists-dental
-hygienist-as-political-candidate.html) . The Daily Telegraph. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/arc
hive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7265423/Silvio-Berlusco
ni-shortlists-dental-hygienist-as-political-candidate.html)
from the original on 11 January 2022.
383. ELISABETTA POVOLEDO and RACHEL DONADIODEC (December 2009). "Attacker Fractures
Berlusconi's Nose" (https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/world/europe/14italy.html) . The New
York Times.
384. Walker, Peter (14 January 2011). "Ruby Rubacuori could finally bring down Silvio Berlusconi" (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20110114201538/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/14/ruby-rub
acuori-silvio-berlusconi) . The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.c
om/world/2011/jan/14/ruby-rubacuori-silvio-berlusconi)
on 14 January 2011.
385. "Female politician 'organized lesbian romps for Silvio Berlusconi" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013
1004225728/http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-127291.html) . New Kerala. 19
January 2011. Archived from the original (http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-12729
1.html)
on 4 October 2013.
386. Berlusconi in Hot Water Again for Using State Funds to Help Actress (http://www.artinfo.com/news/
story/36570/berlusconi-in-hot-water-again-for-using-state-funds-to-help-actress/) , Art+Auction.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110823130425/http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/3657
0/berlusconi-in-hot-water-again-for-using-state-funds-to-help-actress/)
23 August 2011 at the
Wayback Machine
387. "Berlusconi Faces New Criminal Probe in Italy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110729080656/htt
p://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/14/more-heat-for-berlusconi.html) . Newsweek. 14 January
2011. Archived from the original (http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/14/more-heat-for-berlusco
ni.html)
on 29 July 2011.
388. Faris, Stephan (14 January 2011). "Did Italy's Berlusconi Pay for Sex?" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20130823233423/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C2042595%2C00.htm
l) . Time. Archived from the original (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042595,0
0.html)
on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
389. Hooper, John (15 February 2011). "Silvio Berlusconi sent for trial accused of paying for sex with
teenager" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130523045027/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/f
eb/15/silvio-berlusconi-trial-teenage-sex) . The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original (https://w
ww.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/15/silvio-berlusconi-trial-teenage-sex)
on 23 May 2013.
Retrieved 15 February 2011.
390. "Silvio Berlusconi faces Ruby sex charge trial in April" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013110318221
2/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12083491) . BBC News. 15 February 2011. Archived
from the original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12083491)
Retrieved 15 February 2011.
on 3 November 2013.
391. "Silvio Berlusconi: Ruby sex trial plea rejected" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130525051853/htt
p://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21010660) . BBC. 14 January 2013. Archived from the
original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21010660)
on 25 May 2013. Retrieved
14 January 2013.
392. Davies, Lizzy (24 June 2013). "Silvio Berlusconi found guilty of paying for sex" (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20130720143914/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/24/silvio-berlusconi-guilty-un
derage-prostitute) . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.co
m/world/2013/jun/24/silvio-berlusconi-guilty-underage-prostitute)
on 20 July 2013. Retrieved
24 June 2013.
393. "Italian ex-PM Berlusconi sentenced in Ruby sex case" (https://web.archive.org/web/201405061437
55/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-23034167) . BBC News. 24 June 2013. Archived from the
original (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-23034167)
on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
394. "Silvio Berlusconi sex conviction overturned" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-2836940
8) . BBC News. 18 July 2014.
395. "Italy investigates mystery death of 'bunga bunga' guest" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/201
9/mar/15/italy-investigates-mystery-death-of-bunga-bunga-guest) . The Guardian. 15 March
2019.
396. Kington, Tom (16 March 2019). "Witness in Berlusconi's bunga-bunga trial 'poisoned' " (https://www.t
hetimes.co.uk/article/witness-in-berlusconi-s-bunga-bunga-trial-poisoned-f27h7qd5c) . The Times.
397. "Model who gave evidence in Berlusconi 'bunga bunga' trial dies of suspected poisoning" (https://ww
w.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/berlusconi-bunga-bunga-trial-model-death-a8826006.ht
ml) . The Independent. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
398. "Bunga Bunga" (https://wondery.com/shows/bunga-bunga/) . wondery.com. Retrieved 23 July
2021.
399. Rich, Katey (10 August 2020). "Silvio Berlusconi's Story Is Probably Even Wilder Than You
Remember" (https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/08/bunga-bunga-podcast-whitneycummings) . Vanity Fair. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
400. "Panama Papers, ecco i primi 100 nomi degli italiani con i soldi in paradiso" (http://espresso.repubbli
ca.it/plus/articoli/2016/04/07/news/panama-papers-ecco-i-primi-100-nomi-degli-italiani-coi-soldi-inparadiso-1.257659) . l'Espresso. 8 April 2016.
401. "Tartaglia interrogato dai pm 'Gesto folle, ma premeditato' " (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029
205023/http://www.repubblica.it/2009/12/sezioni/politica/giustizia-22/testimone-nuovo/testimonenuovo.html) . La Repubblica (in Italian). 15 December 2009. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.repubblica.it/2009/12/sezioni/politica/giustizia-22/testimone-nuovo/testimone-nuovo.html)
29 October 2013.
on
402. "Da perito a inventore, è in cura da dieci anni" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203142/htt
p://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/dicembre/14/perito_inventore_cura_dieci_anni_co_8_091214010.
shtml) . Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 14 December 2009. p. 4. Archived from the original (http://a
rchiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/dicembre/14/perito_inventore_cura_dieci_anni_co_8_091214010.sht
ml)
on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
403. "Silvio Berlusconi punched in the face in Milan" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110728065629/htt
p://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/13/silvio-berlusconi-punched-in-face) . The Guardian.
London. 13 December 2009. Archived from the original (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/
dec/13/silvio-berlusconi-punched-in-face)
on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
404. Owen, Richard (15 December 2009). "Silvio Berlusconi will need weeks of treatment after Milan
attack" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110629120732/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl
d/europe/article6956607.ece) . The Times. London. Archived from the original (http://www.timeso
nline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6956607.ece)
on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 January
2010.
405. "Berlusconi colpito al volto da una statuetta. Dimesso dall'ospedale" (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0161231002804/http://www.reggio24ore.com/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Berlusconi+colpito+al+volto+da+u
na+statuetta.+Dimesso+dall%27ospedale&idSezione=8681) . Archived from the original (http://ww
w.reggio24ore.com/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Berlusconi+colpito+al+volto+da+una+statuetta.+Dimesso+dal
l%27ospedale&idSezione=8681)
on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
406. Squires, Nick (16 December 2009). "Doctors fear for Berlusconi 'morale' " (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20131204053404/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6818922/Fears-forSilvio-Berlusconis-morale.html) . The Daily Telegraph. London. p. 17. Archived from the original (htt
ps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6818922/Fears-for-Silvio-Berlusconis-moral
e.html)
on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2010.; Squires, Nick (18 December 2009).
"Battered and bandaged Berlusconi says his pain need not be in vain" (https://web.archive.org/web/
20131026163558/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6834114/Silvio-Berlusc
oni-leaves-hospital-covered-in-bandages.html) . The Daily Telegraph. London. p. 23. Archived from
the original (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6834114/Silvio-Berlusconi-l
eaves-hospital-covered-in-bandages.html)
on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
407. Dewan, Angela. "Italy's Berlusconi hospitalized with heart problems" (https://edition.cnn.com/2016/0
6/07/europe/berlusconi-italy-heart/index.html) . CNN.
408. "Urgent heart surgery for Berlusconi" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36490900) . BBC.
9 June 2016.
409. Giuffrida, Angela (2 September 2020). "Silvio Berlusconi tests positive for Covid-19 after Sardinia
visit" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/02/silvio-berlusconi-tests-positive-for-covid-19after-sardinia-visit) . The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
410. Giuffrida, Angela (4 September 2020). "Silvio Berlusconi admitted to hospital with coronavirus" (http
s://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/04/silvio-berlusconi-admitted-milan-hospital-coronavirusitaly) . The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
411. "Coronavirus: Italy ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi in hospital" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-5
4024269) . BBC News. ANSA. 4 September 2020.
412. Berlusconi, hospitalized with COVID, has lung infection (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireS
tory/aide-berlusconi-covid-now-hospital-precaution-72812730)
ABC news, 4 September 2020,
visited 9 September 2020
413. "Zangrillo shock: "For Berlusconi very high viral load, he would have died in March" " (https://www.uni
onesarda.it/en/articolo/news/italia/2020/09/11/zangrillo-choc-per-berlusconi-carica-virale-altissima
-a-marzo-sar-137-1058204.html) . L'Unione Sarda. 11 September 2020.
414. "Zangrillo: "Berlusconi? A marzo-aprile sarebbe morto. Dieci ore dopo in ospedale sarebbe stato
troppo tardi". La rivelazione a La7 – Il Fatto Quotidiano" (https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2020/09/
11/zangrillo-berlusconi-a-marzo-aprile-sarebbe-morto-dieci-ore-dopo-in-ospedale-sarebbe-stato-tropp
o-tardi-la-rivelazione-a-la7/5927956/)
[Berlusconi? In March–April he would have been dead.
Getting to the hospital ten hours later would have been too late]. Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 11
September 2020. With detailed video interview (in Italian).
415. Berlusconi dimesso dall'ospedale: "La prova più pericolosa della mia vita" (https://milano.repubblica.i
t/cronaca/2020/09/14/news/oggi_berlusconi_dimesso_da_san_raffaele-267244088/) , la
Repubblica
416. Covid, Berlusconi: "Primi tre giorni difficilissimi, non credevo di farcela" (https://www.adnkronos.com/
fatti/politica/2020/11/10/covid-berlusconi-tra-piu-sofferte-esperienze-mia-vita_POUT35iwFHhU9axQ
nSV7XJ.html) , Adnkronos
417. Berlusconi torna a parlare: "Ho affrontato le complicazioni di un male tremendo" (https://www.repub
blica.it/politica/2021/06/02/news/berlusconi_torna_a_parlare_ho_affrontato_le_comp_licazione_di_u
n_male_tremendo_-303843150/?ref=RHTP-VS-I287409039-P5-S6-T1) , la Repubblica
418. "Forbes; The World's Billionaires by Country" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130923230416/http://
www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_CountryOfCitizen_13.htm
l) . Forbes. 3 October 2010. Archived from the original (https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billi
onaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_CountryOfCitizen_13.html)
on 23 September 2013.
419. "List of large private Italian companies" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140424045315/http://www.
mbres.it/sites/default/files/resources/download_it/ps_1.pdf)
(PDF) . Archived from the original (htt
p://www.mbres.it/sites/default/files/resources/download_it/ps_1.pdf)
(PDF) on 24 April 2014.
Retrieved 27 October 2012.
420. "Il Cavaliere e il libro copiato allo storico Così mio marito Firpo lo smascherò – la Repubblica.it" (http
s://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/03/23/il-cavaliere-il-libro-copiato-allo-st
orico.html) . Archivio – la Repubblica.it.
421. "la Repubblica/politica: Berlusconi: 'La mia biografia in tutte le famiglie italiane' " (https://www.repub
blica.it/online/politica/campagnacinque/libro/libro.html) . la Repubblica.
422. "Cavaliere del Lavoro" (http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato%3D6
32) . Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120117015417/http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/Det
taglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=632)
from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved
27 October 2012. – website of the Italian President
423. "Convicted Berlusconi relinquishes 'Knight of Labour' title" (https://web.archive.org/web/201403231
64142/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/19/uk-italy-berlusconi-idUKBREA2I1X120140319) .
Reuters. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original (http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-italy-berlusconi
-idUKBREA2I1X120140319/)
on 23 March 2014.
424. "La Gran Croce dell'Ordine Piano" (https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/2006/gennaio%2
02006.pdf)
(PDF) . www.vatican.va. Acta Apostolicae Sedis. 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
425. M.P. 2002 nr 18 poz. 320 (http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WMP20020180320)
– ISAP,
website of the Polish government Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130322175646/http://is
ap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WMP20020180320)
22 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine
426. List of recipients of the Order of the Three Stars since 2004 (http://www.president.lv/images/modul
es/items/PDF/20120528_tzo_registrs_majaslapa.doc)
(.doc file) – website of the Latvian
president Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130502004044/http://www.president.lv/images/
modules/items/PDF/20120528_tzo_registrs_majaslapa.doc)
2 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
427. "Past recipients of honorary membership in Maltese honours and awards and date of conferment"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212501/http://opm.gov.mt/en/Documents/Past%20recipien
ts%20of%20Honorary%20honours_awards.pdf)
(PDF) . 4 March 2016. Archived from the original
(http://opm.gov.mt/en/Documents/Past%20recipients%20of%20Honorary%20honours_awards.pd
f)
(PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
428. Recipients of the order (Excel sheet) (http://canord.presidency.ro/Ord.St.Rom..xls)
– website of
the Presidency of Romania Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140328054109/http://canord.
presidency.ro/Ord.St.Rom..xls)
28 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
429. Italia-Arabia/A Berlusconi la più alta onorificenza reale saudita (http://www.ilcittadinomb.it/stories/
Cronaca/187567/)
– website ilcittadinomb.it Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2013092115
3519/http://www.ilcittadinomb.it/stories/Cronaca/187567/)
21 September 2013 at the Wayback
Machine
430. "Videocracy / ATMO independent film- and TV productions" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131215
112238/http://atmo.se/film-and-tv/videocracy/) . Archived from the original (http://www.atmo.se/
film-and-tv/videocracy/)
on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
Further reading
Diodato, Emidio, and Federico Niglia. Berlusconi 'The Diplomat': Populism and Foreign Policy in Italy
(Springer, 2018).
Amedeo Benedetti, Il linguaggio e la retorica della nuova politica italiana: Silvio Berlusconi e Forza
Italia, Erga, Genova, 2004, ISBN 978-88-8163-363-0
L'odore dei soldi. Origini e misteri delle fortune di Silvio Berlusconi (Elio Veltri and Marco Travaglio,
2001, Editori Riuniti, ISBN 978-88-359-5007-3).
Berlusconi bankruptcy risks and legal investigation before entering politics: Mani pulite. La vera
storia. Da Mario Chiesa a Silvio Berlusconi (Gianni Barbacetto, Peter Gomez and Marco Travaglio,
2002, Editori Riuniti, ISBN 978-88-359-5241-1) (in Italian)
L'amico degli amici. (Marco Travaglio and Peter Gomez, 2005, RCS MediaGroup, ISBN 978-88-1700707-8) (in Italian)
Gustau Navarro i Barba Bagasses, lladres i ministres al país de Berlusconi Edicions dels A.L.I.LL,
Mataró, 2009. ISBN 978-84-613-6192-2 (in Catalan)
"The Thing Berluscony", by Nobel Prize Winner José Saramago (http://www.elpais.com/articulo/in
ternacional/cosa/Berlusconi/elpepusocdmg/20090606elpepuint_ 16/Tes) , El País, 7 June 2009.
Retrieved 7 June 2009
"Italy immunity law provokes fury" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3020960.stm) , BBC
news, 25 June 2003. Retrieved 24 December 2004
"Italy's left attacks Berlusconi" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4087861.stm) , BBC news, 11
December 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2005
"Berlusconi plans to get off the hook" (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,5
64717,00.html) , The Observer, 7 October 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Italian Senate passes disputed bill" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2167204.stm) ,
BBC News, 2 August 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Berlusconi scores double victory" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2406329.stm) , BBC
News, 5 November 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Berlusconi ally jailed for bribery" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2987147.stm) , BBC
News, 29 April 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Berlusconi ally partially cleared" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3228906.stm) , BBC
News, 22 November 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Berlusconi warns 'subversive' judges" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3136107.stm) ,
BBC News, 8 August 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Berlusconi stuns Italian judges" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3082476.stm) , BBC
News, 5 September 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Italian judges fight reforms" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2055418.stm) , BBC
News, 20 June 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Italian magistrates go on strike" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3745119.stm) , BBC
News, 25 May 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"Italian president blocks reforms" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4102541.stm) , BBC
News, 16 December 2004. Retrieved 1 February 2005
Q&A: "Berlusconi's battle with the courts" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1779724.st
m) , BBC News, 24 January 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2005
"New storm over Berlusconi remarks" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3101198.stm) ,
BBC News, 11 September 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2005
"Jewish communities split over Berlusconi" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3142884.s
tm) , BBC News, 26 September 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2005
Alexander Stille, "Girls! Girls! Girls! The P.M.'s sex follies" (https://newyorker.com/reporting/2008/1
1/03/081103fa_ fact_ stille)
The New Yorker 84/35, 3 November 2008 : 70–76
Italian high court upholds Berlusconi's sentence in tax fraud case – CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.c
om/2013/08/01/world/europe/italy-berlusconi/index.html?hpt=hp_ t3)
CNN:Italian high court
upholds Berlusconi's sentence in tax fraud case
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media relat ed t o Silvio Berlusconi.
Wikiquot e has quot at ions relat ed t o: Silvio Berlusconi
Fanclub websit e (ht t ps://web.archive.org/web/20111023202548/ht t p://www.silvioberlusco
nifansclub.it /)
Profile: Silvio Berlusconi (ht t p://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3034600.st m) , BBC
A chronology of Berlusconi's life from Ket upa.net (ht t ps://web.archive.org/web/200408092
35211/ht t p://www.ket upa.net /berlusconi2.ht m)
Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People (ht t ps://www.forbes.com/finance/list s/10/200
2/LIR.jht ml?passList Id=10&passYear=2002&passList Type=Person&uniqueId=EEPT&dat at
ype=Person)
Archived (ht t ps://web.archive.org/web/20120716094756/ht t p://www.forbe
s.com/finance/list s/10/2002/LIR.jht ml?passList Id=10&passYear=2002&passList Type=Per
son&uniqueId=EEPT&dat at ype=Person)
16 July 2012 at t he Wayback Machine
BBC News Europe: Berlusconi in his own words (ht t p://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/304128
8.st m)
Forza It alia (ht t p://www.forza-it alia.it /) , Berlusconi's polit ical movement ; click on
International for an English version. (in English and It alian)
A popular paper (ht t ps://web.archive.org/web/20030801185811/ht t p://www.giannivat t imo.i
t /menu/libro_ berl.ht ml)
spread among t he members of t he European Parliament about
Berlusconi's life chronology, myst eries and t rials. By Marco Travaglio and Pet er Gomez. (in
English) "EN" (in It alian)
Appearances (ht t ps://www.c-span.org/person/?35924)
on C-SPAN
Part y polit ical offices
Leader of Forza It alia
1994–2009
Posit ion est ablished
Leader of T he People of Freedom
Posit ion abolished
2009–2013
Leader of Forza It alia
2013–present
Incumbent
Polit ical offices
Preceded by
Prime Minist er of It aly
Succeeded by
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
1994–1995
Lambert o Dini
Preceded by
Prime Minist er of It aly
Succeeded by
Giuliano Amat o
2001–2006
Romano Prodi
Preceded by
Prime Minist er of It aly
Succeeded by
Romano Prodi
2008–2011
Mario Mont i
Diplomat ic post s
Preceded by
Chairperson of t he Group of 7
Kiichi Miyazawa
1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Chairperson of t he Group of 8
Jean Chrét ien
Yoshiro Mori
2001
Preceded by
Chairperson of t he Group of 8
Succeeded by
Yasuo Fukuda
2009
St ephen Harper
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Silvio_Berlusconi&oldid=1085662282"
Last edited 2 days ago by Tobby72