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12 Nov 2011 16:37

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World: More on Silvio Berlusconi’s exit as Italian Prime Minister

The long-controversial Italian PM exits as the two chambers of Parliament passed a tough austerity plan. The Senate passed it Friday; the lower house passed it today with a resounding 380-26 vote. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Nov 2011 15:11

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World: SIlvio Berlusconi to resign as Italian Prime Minister

  • The end of an era: Silvio Berlusconi was, if nothing else, a remarkably durable politician. He served as Prime Minister three different times, briefly in the 90s and twice over the last decade, despite both political and sexual scandals (you may recall his broken promise to sell his media assets if elected, his alleged tryst with underage prostitute ‘Ruby The Heart Stealer,’ and his very specific, foul assessment of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, fr example). However, following what Reuters reports as a “humiliating” legislative defeat over proposed reforms to meet the fiscal demands of the euro zone debt crisis, Berlusconi will soon be on the way out. Honestly, we never thought this guy’s political life would end with a parliamentary defeat. It somehow seems not salacious or bizarre enough, given the rest of the man’s career. (Photo by Alessio85) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Nov 2011 11:04

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World: Silvio Berlusconi walking on eggshells after botched economic vote

The vote, which went in his favor, showed however that he no longer has an absolute majority of support in the Italian parliament. It increased calls for his resignation. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Aug 2011 10:47

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World: Delayed reaction of the day: Silvio Berlusconi’s plea to the Libyan rebels

  • Now, you might not know this, but there’s a bit of a civil war going on at the moment in Libya. The rebels are fairly close to victory — so close they can smell it. So, right on cue, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a former colonial leader of Libya who was once an ally to Gaddafi and a reluctant partner in the NATO campaign in Libya, has urged the rebels “to abstain from any violence.” Now … look. We can see that there is obvious danger of things escalating, and the rebels do need to be careful to approach the situation carefully. But seriously, this is the wrong time for this comment if he’s going to make it. This is, like, a war, man. Things like this happen. But to tell the rebels to drop their weapons now, at a key time in the country’s history where they’re about to win, seems just a little bit tone-deaf to the current situation. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Apr 2011 16:42

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Offbeat, World: Awwwwwwwww: Silvio and Ruby Forever!

  • Okay, so who’s buying this for us? This fetching piece by environmental artist Dodi Reifenberg depicts who we’ll call “the couple of the century,” Silvio Berlusconi and Karima El Mahroug, better known as “Ruby The Heart Stealer.” Reifenberg apparently used scotch tape and plastic bags to produce this triumphant piece of artwork. Berlusconi’s trial, facing charges that he slept with the then-underage Ruby, has been adjourned until May. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Mar 2011 15:28

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Politics: Silvio Berlusconi admits to being “mischievous,” nothing more

  • 13 times (allegedly) that Berlusconi had sex with a 17-year-old source
  • » He denies this, obviously. As does the girl he’s alleged to have slept with, Karima el Mahroug (better known publicly by her pseudonym, Ruby The Heart Stealer). The Italian Prime Minister mocked the accusations against him, claiming that the charge, which cites 33 total women he was alleged to have slept with, is silly because he’s too old. “I’m 75, and even if I’m a bit mischievous, 33 girls in two months is too much even for someone who is 30.” It says something about Berlusconi’s personality that he’s still coyly describing himself as “mischievous,” even as he faces this major legal threat. He’s basically ceding that yeah, he might sleep around every now and then, but not THAT much. Wouldn’t you generally want to avoid in any way alluding to such a thing?
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Feb 2011 13:38

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Politics, World: Silvio Berlusconi is always there for you, ladies!

  • I have always made it so that every woman feels, how should I say, special.
  • Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi • Embattled by multiple charges of sex with underage prostitutes (the girls were of legal consenting age, but prostitutes must be over eighteen by Italian law), the leader defended his way with women, insisting he’s always treated them with respect and “the greatest attention,” which might somewhat be the problem. Berlusconi faces charges carrying a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison.  source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

27 Jan 2011 13:36

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World: Italian PM Berlusconi accused of another underage prostitute liaison

  • Another day, another sex scandal: The water continues to heat up on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, as the police have alleged a second liaison with a seventeen-year-old prostitute. While prostitution is not illegal in Italy, and the age of legal consent is fourteen, it is illegal to hire a prostitute under the age of eighteen. (photo via europeanpeoplesparty) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 11:01

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World: Silvio Berlusconi (barely) survives no-confidence vote in Italy

  • 314-311 that’s not very confident source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2010 10:22

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World: Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi could face the music in no-confidence vote

Speaking of fights for one’s political life, Silvio Berlusconi could be out of office after a no-confidence vote on Tuesday. To call the dude controversial in Italy puts it lightly. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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