IL FINANCIAL TIMES: "BERLUSCONI LO STATISTA, NON IL PLAYBOY"

Berlusconi the statesman, not the playboy
By Guy Dinmore and George Parker in L’Aquila

Published: July 10 2009

Silvio Berlusconi’s gamble to host the G8 summit appears to have paid off. From scandal-plagued playboy to international statesman: after three days of presiding over the international gathering Mr Berlusconi has silenced his critics and soothed his allies, at least for the moment.

For the 72-year-old billionaire prime minister, the three-day summit of 40 heads of government and international organisations concluding on Friday was as much a success for what did not happen.



Aides were clearly relieved that none of their worst fears materialised – no aftershocks from the April 6 earthquake disturbed proceedings; no prosecutors announced investigations into well-publicised allegations that prostitutes were procured last year for his lavish parties; and no reporter, Italian or otherwise, had the temerity to ask Mr Berlusconi about his personal life.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor well accustomed to Mr Berlusconi’s pranks – he once played peek-a-boo from behind a pillar – greeted him with a kiss. Gordon Brown gave a big hug and Barack Obama was gracious in his praise for the organisation.

By playing up the spartan nature of the accommodation in the finance ministry police college, expectations were lowered and no one complained. The people of L’Aquila – more than 60,000 have lost their homes and 22,000 are in tents – were flattered to be the centre of world attention.

European diplomats did moan that Mr Berlusconi had been “incredibly late” for some meetings, leaving the punctilious German chancellor “steaming” over poor time-keeping.

The summit was “reasonably well-organised”, one diplomat said. “The accommodation and the food were modest and that was exactly the right thing.”

After weeks of salacious reports (all denied by Mr Berlusconi) about his friendship with an 18-year-old would-be model and accounts by call girls of party and bedroom antics, the media mogul’s outlets were also exultant.

“The summit results are extremely positive. I have received compliments from all participants and some have told me it has been the best G8 they joined,” the prime minister said on Friday.

Yet senior diplomats remain concerned, on security grounds, about trusting a head of government who allegedly has entertained call girls, some reported to be east European. Mr Berlusconi said he believed one woman, whom he said he did not know was an escort, had been paid to set him up.

Io sapevo anche che Di pietro aveva comprato per la "modica"cifra di 38.000euro una pagina del Times perche parlsssero male di Berlusconi......avete notizie di questo?è una notizia di qualche giorno fa...vorrei saperne di piu...
Grazie tante...

si Di pietro ha comprato una pagina sull'Herald Tribune per chiedere aiuto alla comunità internazionale contro la democrazia in pericolo in Italia.
A mio parere un clamoroso autogol del leader dell'IDV: una richiesta di ingerenza negli affari interni del proprio Stato che è parimenti una confessione di inadeguatezza e impotenza nello svolgere il proprio ruolo di rappresentante del popolo

http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/gallerie/...dipietro/1.html

2) l'elogio del FT dimostra che quando il presidente del Consiglio si comporta validamente non vi sono remore a dargli il giusto riconoscimento. Sarà dunque più difficile per Papi Silvio non rispondere nel merito delle critiche future che gli proverranno dalla stampa estera, agitando lo spauracchio del complotto internazionale orchestrato dal centro-sinistra italiano.