Silvio Berlusconi: A Clown or a Political Acrobat?

Perhaps fabulous wealth, business success, enviably graceful aging, media savviness and control, and lady-killer mystique have nothing to do with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's political fortunes. But they certainly play a role in his popularity at home and name recognition abroad. In March he solidified his Party of Freedom organization with a unification ceremony binding other center-right and right wing political entities to his erstwhile Forza Italia political party. A political group led by the granddaughter of former Fascist leader Benito Mussolini was part of the mix. Berlusconi was acclaimed president of the new political coalition, with Gianfranco Fini, a long-time ally and presumed claimant to the prime minister's mantle, as one among many supporters. However, Fini has been somewhat critical of late with regard to notable activities apparently approved by Berlusconi, such as a move to segregate the Milan transit system, reserving some seats only for city natives, and a plan to sanction the deportation of illegal immigrants, or boat people, to Libya.

Although obviously quite a character, Berlusconi has accomplished a few good things. For one, he orchestrated a quick response to a recent devastating earthquake in the Abruzzi region of central Italy. For another, he reached an agreement on aid and cultural exchanges with Egypt, a major trading partner, including the establishment of a new university in Cairo. His encouragement of the deal combining Italian automaker Fiat with American big-three Chrysler and GM Europe's Opel operations is likely to cement the process, with potential benefits for Italy, the U.S., and European car buyers.

Casting doubt on his moral probity is the very public dispute with his wife, a dispute which features allegations of dalliances with very young women and appointments of beauty queens to serious political posts. Mrs. Berlusconi, also known as Miriam Bartolini and by her stage name Veronica Lario, is reportedly suing for divorce while her husband is demanding a public apology. The particular dalliance which triggered the most recent flare-up between the celebrity couple was a birthday party for 18-year-old Naemi Letizia, who reportedly received a diamond necklace as a gift from Berlusconi, whom the teenager called "Papi." Additionally, several lovely women with no political credentials were added to the Party of Freedom delegate listing for Members of the European Parliament standing for election in June 2009. Whatever the merits of Mrs. Berlusconi's fault-finding, her timing as well as her finely tuned outrage is likely to impact her husband's political career, despite his continuing popularity and high approval ratings. The Vatican weighed in on the matter, urging a modicum of decorum from public officials and recommending that private matters be kept private.

Silvio Berlusconi is 72 years old and a self-made billionaire. He owns financial companies, television stations, publishing concerns, and a soccer team as well as several homes, apartments and yachts. His business dealing have not been without scandal and charges of corruption, but he has always evaded any legal consequences, whether from innocence or luck or using political influence to change the rules. He has held the office of Prime Minister three times and is likely to complete his present term which supposedly ends in 2013 when new elections must be scheduled. What next? Possibly the Presidency of Italy.

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Sebastian Rotella and Maria De Cristofaro , "Berlusconi divorce spat merges with politics", Los Angeles Times
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John Hooper, "Calls for racially segregated public transport in Milan sparks row", The Guardian
"Italy: Judge orders Berlusconi wiretaps destroyed", Adnkronos International