The Spanish daily El Pais has published a set of photos that include shots of nude and semi-nude guests at Berlusconi's Villa Certosa in Sardinia. The pics were taken by Antonio Zappauda from outside the Berlusconi villa during a party for a Czech delegation.
The photos provide a glimpse of the 72 year-old premier at play. There is also a pic of a naked man pool-side, sporting what looks like a semi-erection. The face has been pixelated, but it's reportedly former Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek.
Berlusconi's need at age 72 to surround himself with beautiful young women comes off as an effort to convince himself that he is just as virile and attractive as he was a few decades ago, and no doubt the girls cater to his many vanities.
But what is most amazing is that even as he goes out of his way to hang with young women and in the case of one, Noemi Letizia, even further out of his way... nothing is going on... innocence rules. So all of this energy and effort is just what... for the chat?
The mere fact of hanging around with younger women isn't the main issue, it's the fact that Berlusconi has promoted the importance of religion and the family while pouring scorn on the left - it's about his hypocrisy. It's also about his Caesar complex as Playboy-in-Chief and what this lifestyle says about his priorities as a democratically elected leader.
Over and above Berlusconi's personal tastes and private preferences, there are also allegations of abuse of public funds. According to El Pais, Berlusconi has been using Italian aircraft since the summer of 2007 to fly ferry guests to and from the Villa Certosa. This is alleged to have occurred "almost every weekend."
Berlusconi says that when he visits other countries the entertainment is laid on for him, so he is just returning the favor. Flying young women on Italian planes to a villa for the pleasure of 'Papi' and his visiting political pals seems kind of like high-end pimping.
A complaint has been filed by the consumer organization, Codacons, forcing Italian prosecutors to open an investigation into Berlusconi's use of public assets. But Berlusconi, true to form, is contemptuous of the effort and says "It means nothing. It will be shelved very soon."
Meanwhile he is furious about the appearance of the Sardinia photos in El Pais and is suing the daily. The premier's lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, described the photos as having "originated in a crime." He added: "Who buys them anywhere in the world is committing a crime, something which should have been clear to El Pais' journalists,"
El Pais says that Berlusconi is the one who is getting things wrong:
"The publication of the photographs of his private parties aims to show how, as prime minister, he is trying to turn the realm of democratic politics into a simple continuation of his friendships and entertainment... It is not the job of official aircraft to transport guests to his private parties."
Link to El Pais ... here.
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