From life of political whores

Yesterday, a court in Milan acquitted former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of charges of bribing witnesses in a 2013 case of underage prostitution. "Loro" (as Berlusconi is called by people around him, and by the way, this is the title of the movie by Paolo Sorrentino and Tony Servillo about the dinosaur of Italian politics) was accused of paying for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan nightclub dancer. Berlusconi was acquitted in this case due to the lack of evidence that he knew he was paying a minor. The charge of witness bribery came later.

I don't know what impacts on the behavior of the Forza Italia leader: his political practice influences daily life, or vice versa - his "club macho" style affects his political gestures. Perhaps we can talk about symbiosis here. The only thing that can be said for sure is that populists, as they age and lose their former charm and creativity, begin to resemble prostitutes, and not of the highest caliber.

“I don't know what impacts the behavior of the Forza Italia leader: his political practice influences his daily life, or vice versa - his "club macho" style affects his political gestures. Perhaps we can talk about a symbiosis here.”

Of course, I can't say for sure that Russian alcohol flowed like a river at the wild bungo-bungo parties that the 86-year-old dyed Italian fox loves. But there is no doubt that Silvio appreciates the attention of "Vladimir" (Putin. - Author). Last October, he boasted that his Russian old man "sent twenty bottles of vodka and a very nice letter for my birthday. I responded with bottles of Lambrusco and an equally sweet letter. He declared me the first of his five true friends."

At the same time, apparently at the request of a friend from Moscow ("a man of peace," according to the Italian populist), Silvio started talking about the possibility of a "truce," which was rather strange given the format. He said that Ukraine could agree to a cessation of hostilities in exchange for "hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild war-torn cities" from the West, but only if Western arms aid stops. Note that Berlusconi did not mention any reparations, let alone the responsibility of the aggressor.

And here we go again. At the EU summit in Brussels, "Loro" said that if he were still prime minister, he would not have met with Zelenskyy. Later, in Lombardy, Silvio said that the reason for the war in Ukraine was Kyiv's "attacks" on two regions in the east. "That's why I assess this gentleman's behavior very, very negatively," he said.

“The leader of Forza Italia tries to take advantage of the opportunity to criticize the current Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, for her commitment to the Ukrainian cause. He does this so recklessly that he begins to harm his own party members, who, by the way, are part of the government coalition. Therefore, when he heard that he had gone too far, Berlusconi refuted himself without batting an eye.”

And the issue is not that the leader of Forza Italia wants to take the opportunity to criticize the current Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, for her commitment to the Ukrainian cause. He does so so recklessly that he begins to harm his own party members, who, by the way, are part of the government coalition. Therefore, when he heard that he had gone too far, Berlusconi refuted himself without batting an eye: "Let's look at the facts. We have always supported the Ukrainian people, we have always voted in Italy and in Europe without hesitation or doubt to support Ukraine by sending funding and weapons... I have always been and am on the side of the Ukrainian people and peace."

However, the words of a populist and political whore should not be trusted. While trumping his "Marshall Plan" and beating his chest when it comes to supporting Ukraine, he is keeping his nose to the grindstone. In one of his recent reports on the situation with the war in Ukraine, Austrian military analyst Tom Cooper complained about the real bullying of his posts by "Italian intellectuals." So Berlusconi understands that he can sell pacifist ideas (to the detriment of Ukraine) not only to the Italian middle class, but also to count on opinion leaders from the leftist-professorial environment.

“"Loro" has not lost the skills of the real estate broker he was before he began his political career. He also skillfully speculates on Mussolini's legacy, condemning "racist laws" as Benito's biggest mistake, while claiming that "in many things he did the right thing.”

He can do it, we must admit. "Loro" has not lost the skills of the real estate broker he was before he started his political career. He also skillfully speculates on Mussolini's legacy, condemning "racist laws" as Benito's biggest mistake, while at the same time claiming that "he did the right thing in many things." He is also no stranger to neo-Marxist ideas, the continuity of which can be understood by taking a closer look at Italian realities after the end of World War II.

For the sake of political longevity and staying in power, characters like Berlusconi are ready to do anything. Putin once told his audience in Valdai, speaking about “Loro's” political practice and criticism of "his dear friend," that: "But if Berlusconi were a homosexual, they wouldn't dare to touch him." For the sake of dubious success, Silvio won't stop at making a coming-out… 

About the author. Ihor Hulyk, journalist, Editor-in-Chief of the Espreso.West website. 

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.