Sex, Religion & Politics
Ahead of his visit to the White House, Italy's prime minister explains some nutty rumors to NEWSWEEK.
By Christopher Dickey
Newsweek
March 6, 2006 issue - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 69, is one of President George W. Bush's most faithful—and flamboyant—friends in Europe. And Berlusconi's not the only one to say that. Last time the Italian leader came to Washington, in October, Bush made a point of calling him "my friend" at a photo op, "because it seems like we see each other a lot." Bush appreciated Berlusconi's "advice and counsel," he said, thanking "Silvio" for his "strong commitment to the freedom of people in Afghanistan and in Iraq." When Europe split over the 2003 invasion, Berlusconi sided with the United States, and he was one of the most willing members of the coalition sending in troops after the fall of Baghdad.
But as Berlusconi returns to Washington this week, his advice—given in an interview with NEWSWEEK—might not be so welcome: let Russian President Vladimir Putin take the lead negotiating with Hamas in the Palestinian territories, and set a timetable to get out of Iraq. Berlusconi, a self-made billionaire and media magnate, will be bringing a lot of political baggage to the States. He's in a fierce fight for re-election in April. His cabinet seems out of control. One member was forced to resign after taunting Muslims with a Muhammad cartoon T shirt, provoking Libyan riots that cost 14 lives. Berlusconi is dogged by corruption scandals, and headlines about outrageous egotism. Is there another world leader who would be reported comparing himself to Napoleon, Winston Churchill and Jesus Christ?
Berlusconi openly despises the Italian press, mistrusts foreign journalists, and yet—always full of surprises—he spent 90 minutes last week chatting with correspondents from NEWSWEEK. Over cappuccinos in Rome's spectacular 17th-century Palazzo Grazioli, where he chooses to live, work and pay the rent himself, his vanities were visible up close and personal: transplanted hair and what looked like Pancake makeup. Quintessentially Latin, Berlusconi's style is nothing like Bush's laconic folksiness. But there are common threads—not least the proselytizing for democracy and the vilification of doubters.
Did he really compare himself to Christ? "It's not true. Absolutely not true," he said. He'd been telling people he was tired at a fund-raiser, and called himself "povero Cristo." "You see, we say in Italian 'poor Christ,' when we mean 'poor fellow.' I stopped myself. I smiled. I said, 'Mamma mia, now they're going to say that I compare myself to Jesus Christ!' "
What about his claim that he'd give up sex until after the elections? Berlusconi laughed, loving the question. "Absolutely the contrary," he said. So did that mean... he's having more sex? "No, no, no," said the prime minister, who is married to former actress Veronica Lario. A priest had asked him to make all the necessary sacrifices to win the election; Berlusconi had asked if that included chastity. "No, I'm not asking you to do that!" said the priest. But the press got it all wrong—again—saying he'd given up sex. "Naturally, many of my friends were concerned," Berlusconi told NEWSWEEK, "to the point that Putin called me and said that both he and Bush were very worried about me."
But, seriously folks, Berlusconi says these stories are proof of a left-wing media conspiracy. Never mind that as president he controls state-run television, and his holding company owns most of the private stations in the country. Most Italian journalists are leftists if not out-and-out communists, he says, and even those at his networks want to prove they're independent. "I have to work against all the media, which are all on the other side," Berlusconi said.
Berlusconi's theatrics subside when he talks about the Middle East. He suggests the Putin option is the most pragmatic way out of the impasse between a Hamas government and Western countries that have formally branded the organization terrorist. "I think this approach can be the road to starting negotiations," said Berlusconi. He also thinks it's common sense for the United States to do what Italy has done and set a timetable to get out of Iraq. "I think it is good for the Iraqis to be able to protect themselves."
Toward the end of the conversation Berlusconi was asked the inevitable question about corruption. Could it be that he's desperate for a second term because he's afraid of prosecution if he loses? No smile on this. He's beaten every court case so far, he said, and there have been dozens. "It is the biggest persecution of a politician ever carried out in any democracy in history."
"Like a poor Christ?" he was asked. Berlusconi clenched his jaw, then flashed a smile. "Sure—they tried to nail me to the cross. But there is nothing in my life I have to be ashamed of." At this point President Bush may, or may not, feel the same.
With Jacopo Barigazzi and Barbie Nadeau in Rome
© 2006 Newsweek, Inc
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Italy's 'Povero Cristo'
Embattled yet still flamboyant, Silvio Berlusconi gleefully takes on his critics, real and imaginary.
Newsweek International
March 6, 2006 issue
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 69, is one of the Bush administration's most faithful—and flamboyant—friends in Europe. The self-made billionaire and media magnate supports a close transatlantic alliance and sent thousands of Italian troops to Iraq as part of the post-invasion Coalition in 2003. But as he visits Washington this week, Berlusconi is under pressure. Running for re-election on April 9, he's trailing in the polls. A member of his cabinet was just forced to resign after taunting Muslims with a Muhammad-cartoon T shirt, provoking anti-Italian riots that cost at least 14 lives in Libya. Last week Berlusconi spoke with NEWSWEEK's Christopher Dickey, Jacopo Barigazzi and Barbie Nadeau.
You often speak of yourself as the salvation of the country. It's been said you compare yourself to Jesus Christ.
It's not true. I attended a fund-raising dinner where there were more than 400 people. I greeted everybody, shaking hands, taking pictures. I didn't manage to eat anything. I signed autographs. And then they wanted me to give a speech. So I went like this [he slumps in his chair] and said, "You're asking a 'povero Cristo' to give a speech." You see, we say in Italian "poor Christ" when we mean "poor fellow." But I stopped myself. I smiled. I said, "Mamma mia, now they're going to say that I compare myself to Jesus Christ!"
OK, now that we've cleared that up, what about your claim that you'd give up sex until you win the election?
[Laughs.] Absolutely the contrary. We were in Sardinia, a meeting of party officials. No journalists. At the end a priest came to me. He says, "Bless you." And he asked, "Will you make all the necessary sacrifices to win?" And I told him, "You're not asking me to take a vow of chastity until the end of the elections?" And he said, "No, I'm not asking you to do that!" And then somebody at the meeting probably said something outside.
Why so many misconceptions?
You have to understand that in Italy the media and the press have been taken over by the left. Even at my television networks, journalists want to prove they are independent. There is only one brave journalist, the director of the smallest of my three networks, who comes to my defense. All the others are against me.
You admire the United States. What do you think Europe can learn from it?
I wouldn't put it this way. I'm part of Europe, but the West is one, and has to remain one, above all at a moment when we are facing the new totalitarianism that is international terrorism. Now we are back to a situation where Europe is close to the United States, and it is my belief that it is our responsibility to spread democracy all over the world.
Even if democracy elects Hamas in the Palestinian territories?
Democracy is not enough, but I'm optimistic. The important thing is for the Western democracies to be united when they tackle these problems. We are doing this with both Iran and the Palestinian Authority, and there are initiatives by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. I'd like to explain what he's trying to do vis-a-vis Hamas. None of us [in the United States or the EU] can negotiate with Hamas because we included it on the black list of terrorist organizations, and you do not negotiate with terrorists. But [Russia] did not do this. I think this approach can be the road to starting negotiations. I also rely on the fact that the Hamas leaders now understand they have government responsibilities.
How does it make you feel when you're pushing a statesmanlike policy and one of your ministers shows off a Muhammad-cartoon T shirt?
I asked him to resign, and he did.
You've set a timetable to pull out of Iraq by the end of this year. Should the United States have a timetable, too?
I think so. I discussed that with President Bush and [Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice. And I do believe—it's just my personal opinion—that it would be worthwhile for them to have a timetable. The Iraqi government will soon be able to keep order in the country on its terms.
You say you need a second term because you've still got work to do. Opponents say you're afraid that if you step down the left will come after you and you'll be put in jail.
That might be the left's intention, and it speaks volumes about how "democratic" they are... [Since 1994] I have been completely acquitted in all trials, because I did not commit any crime. During the six years I was in the opposition, 92 times they tried to [use the courts]... I was involved in almost 2,000 hearings. It is the biggest persecution of a politician ever carried out in any democracy in history.
Like a "poor Christ"?
[Clenches his jaw, then smiles.] Sure—they tried to nail me to the cross. But there is nothing in my life I have to be ashamed of.
© 2006 Newsweek, Inc.