Berlusconi: even the loyal spokesman Paolo Bonaiuti leaves your sinking Forza Italia for the New Centre-Right?

Sunday, 14 April 2014. As Forza Italia (Go Italy) appears to be losing more and more voters, Paolo Bonaiuti decides to leave the party to follow Berlusconi's former dauphin Angelino Alfano into the Nuovo Centrodestra (New Centre-Right).

“It was a difficult and painful decision,” said the 74-year-old Paolo Bonaiuti, announcing his divorce from Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy) 2.0, the party re-founded by Berlusconi, when he decided to ditch the PDL (People of Freedom Party), in a virtual night of the long knives to get rid of some of his opponents.

Sometimes it was painful for Mr Bonaiuti (centre) to be on Berlusconi's side.

It's “a decision I have delayed for a long time, but fully motivated by political differences and personal incomprehension that have deepened in the past year.” said Bonaiuti, who has been Berlusconi's public face for a long long time. 

Berlusconi and the mystery of the European election's logo

Wednesday, 2 April 2014. The Forza Italia logo for the European elections shows the name “Berlusconi”, but if Silvio can't run as a candidate, who is going to be that?

Silvio Berlusconi can't run as a candidate for public office due to his interdiction to public posts, Italian highest court had made it clear last month, when the former prime minister's lawyer appealed against the ruling, which followed the definitive conviction of the media tycoon for tax fraud. 

Forza Italia's logo and slogan: “"More Italy in Europe, less Europe in Italy”

But, then, who is going to put a face to the Berlusconi name written in big blue letters over the Forza Italia (Go Italy) party's logo for the election, just below the tricolour banner and between a menace printed on the left (“Piu' Italia in Europa”, “More Italy in Europe”), and a wrote bad omen on the right (“Meno Europa in Italia”, “Less Europe in Italy”)?

Berlusconi: riding cats and dogs to gain support

Sunday, 30 March 2014. In a desperate attempt to gain support in the run-up to May European Elections, Silvio Berlusconi has become a strenuous campaigner for animal adoption.

The Mr Berlusconi is looking for a tiger to ride, in order to gain some support at least within his ageing target group, the young pensioners, and show that ditching the People of Liberty movement (Popolo della Libertà) and re-founding his old party “Forza Italia” (Go Italy o Forward Italy, according to the interpretations) was, all in all, a pretty good idea.

“This dog is my happiness” says a visibly satisfied Berlusconi on the Facebook page of Dudù,
Francesca Pascale's pet (photograph: Forza Dudù)

So far the disgraced politician (who was sentenced for tax fraud, booted from parliament, banned from travelling abroad, and his woes related to the bunga-bunga parties sex scandal are far from over) has been clutching at straws, lacking a proper wild beast, he is now experimenting with cats and dogs, playing the role of the wise and nice elderly man (his look had already been changed accordingly). Beggers can't be choosers

Berlusconi: AC Milan makes me lose 50 million a year

Wednesday, 25 March 2014. During a meeting with MPs from the Italian region of the Marches, Silvio Berlusconi stated that maintaining the football team has a cost of 50m euro a year (£42m or $69m), which is a bit annoying, given the results.

During a gathering at Villa Grazioli, his residence in Rome, Silvio Berlusconi couldn't help talking about the AC Milan, at least with the supporters of the rossoneri among a selection of members of parliament representing his party Forza Italia.

When AC Milan was successful: Berlusconi with coach Ancelotti and captain Maldini
Photograph: New Press/Getty

Apparently one of the milanisti said “Mr President, you should do something, I am so sorrow that such an important team is in such a situation” hinting at the fact that the club is virtually out of all competitions and AC Milan seem to be free-falling.

Berlusconi: High court explains to former prime minister how the ban from public office works

Tuesday, 18 March 2014. Italian High Court explains to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi how the ban from public office works, and that he cannot run as a candidate for the European Parliament.

“Yes, you're banned from public office for two year, and no, you cannot run for European Parliament” told the High Court to Silvio Berlusconi, who tried to convince them that he had a case for his appeal (appealing also to the European Court of Human Rights).

The only way for Mr Berlusconi to get back to politics might be an appointment from his friend Putin?

While he was at it, he appealed also against his expulsion from the Senate, another measure – like the interdiction from taking part in elections as a candidate – taken after Mr Berlusconi was found guilty of tax fraud. 

Berlusconi is not allowed to travel to Ireland for European Popular Party conference

Wednesday, 4 March 2014. A court in Milan has denied Silvio Berlusconi a permit to leave Italy and have some fun with his fellow members of the European Popular Party (EPP) in Dublin.

Just for a change, a Milan court rejected a request by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose passport was confiscated after his conviction for tax fraud, to leave Italy and attend a conference in Ireland.

I'ts been a long time since Mr Berlusconi had a proper pint

One of the most outspoken allies of the billionaire turned into politician, Daniela Santanchè (a nice piece of ass, according to Berlusconi), called the Milan court's decision on Tuesday “a disgrace.”, adding that “Certain judges just can't help engaging into politics,”.

Berlusconi shows his new look, with wrinkles and all

Sunday, 26 January 2014. In order to differentiate himself from his young opponent Matteo Renzi, Silvio Berlusconi is switching to a new look. An older one.

Berlusconi as shown by the Sunday Times

For decades Silvio Berlusconi has been labouring on his external appearance, in order to look younger than he actually is (he turned 77 on 29 September 2013), by means of hair transplant, face lifting, changing his headgear into something newer and pictures tweaking.

He thus created a well known persona: the youthful, women lover, brilliant entrepreneur, who adores to enjoy life and organising bunga-bunga parties in his Arcore's villa, who has a girlfriend - Francesca Pascale - 50 years his junior (but many other girls boasted of having a relationship with Berlusconi, like show-girl Nicole Minetti and Miss Montenegro Katarina Knezevic).

Berlusconi files appeal against bunga-bunga sex conviction

Thursday, 2 January 2014. Silvio Berlusconi appeals against his conviction for paying for sex with a minor and abuse of office, nasty things he did when Prime Minister of Italy, according to judges.

Berlusconi just couldn't resist teenage Ruby's charm

Silvio Berlusconi was given a 7-year sentence in the end of June 2013 for having sex with a minor (the nightclub dancer and stripper Karima El Mahroug, better known as Ruby the Heartstealer, her stage name) and for abusing of his office as a prime minister, when he tried to cover the story that threaten to become public, as the young girl was stopped by the police.

Berlusconi personally phoned the policemen, saying that they better release Ruby into the safe hands of show-girl-turned-into-politician Nicole Minetti (the attractive young woman will also get a 7-year sentence – later on – for procuring women for the former Italian prime minister's bunga-bunga parties in Villa San Martino), since it seemed she's the nephew of Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak.

Berlusconi's senate expulsion vote will be held today

Wednesday, 27 November 2013. Berlusconi's supporters gather in Rome as their leader will face expulsion from Italian Senate and “political death” perpetrated by a “firing squad” (as he put it).

«It's a coup d'etat», reads the sign hung in Rome by berluscones

Tonight, apparently at 5 pm – but it can happen even earlier than that, or later, as we are talking about Italy – the Italian Senate of will vote over the expulsion of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, due to a definitive conviction for tax fraud. Sky TV will stream a special report 'til midnight, to cover the story, all Italian media are tuned in.

In this hours the Berlusconi's supporters brandishing the newly formed Forza Italia party's flags (also known as berluscones) have started converging on Rome as a last attempt to stop the “firing squad”, as the billionaire called it. Berlusconi's girlfriend Francesca Pascale and other family members might show up.

Berlusconi will fight against the coup d'etat that plans to (politically) kill him, but a presidential pardon would do either

Sunday, 24 November 2013. Talking to the younger generation of Forza Italia militants, Berlusconi says he is a victim of a coup d'etat (and Giorgio Napolitano should help him getting out of the pickle).

Talking to a Forza Italia's gathering of young followers, Silvio Berlusconi reiterated his j'accuse, saying that he is a victim of a leftist coup d'etat aiming to his “political murder”.

Silvio Berlusconi with Annagrazia Calabria,
National Coordinator of Forza Italia's youth movement Giovane Italia (Young Italy)

And Italy's Head of State Giorgio Napolitano – went on Berlusconi - should “grant him a presidential pardon without any hesitation” even though his dignity does not allow him to ask for it (and Mr Napolitano previously tried to convince him that you can “grant” something only if somebody “have asked for it”).

In the meantime Berlusconi's former heir apparent Angelino Alfano said he won't join Forza Italia, founded a breakaway party (the New Centre-Right, NCR), declared he won't take part in the protest to be staged on November 27 (on that day the Senate will vote on Berlusconi's expulsion from the Italian parliament), even though he still loves Berlusconi and they should remain friends and allies and all that stuff.

Berlusconi's bunga bunga parties' details disclosed by Milan's court

Ruby the Heartstealer received from Silvio Berlusconi
"money and jewellery" in exchange for sex, according to Milan's judges

Thursday, 21 November 2013. Milan's court publishes details of Berlusconi conviction, is bunga bunga parties and his exchange of money and jewellery for sex with under-age dancer Karima el Mahroug (aka Ruby the Heart Stealer).

The proceedings about the sex scandal that involved Silvio Berlusconi ended up with a seven-year sentence, appeal pending. It's no more on the news, as it happened last June, but now new details have been disclosed about the sex scandal, as the Milan's court published a 350-page document about testimonies, bunga bunga parties and – of course – lots of women. 

The former prime minister of Italy will also be banned from public office for life (if he fails to win the appeal to the sentence), a problem that adds up to Berlusconi's woes: on Wednesday the Senate will decide whether to expel him from the Italian parliament, in the wake of his conviction for tax fraud (no appeal pending, this one is definitive).

Berlusconi says that his children feel like Jews with Hitler and asked him to leave the country

Wednesday, 6 Novembre 2013. In a new book published by famous Italian journalist Bruno Vespa, Berlusconi reveals that his children said they feel like a Jew family during Hitler's times.

In the run-up to the Italian Senate vote about the ousting of Silvio Berlusconi (as he was found guilty of tax fraud and convicted by all levels of Italian judiciary), the former prime minister is struggling to stay politically alive, and the publishing of his friend's book is a good chance to state his case and fight his war against his enemies.

77-year old Silvio Berlusconi seems to be worrying about his political future

“My children say they feel as Jewish families might have felt in Germany during Hitler's regime. Everybody is against as.” answered to Bruno Vespa's question about whether it is true that the children have asked him to sell out and leave Italy.

Berlusconi's last attempt... or everybody go home!

Wednesday, 25 September 2013. In order to fight a “coup against the leader of the centre-right” - as Silvio Berlusconi put it, all the PDL (People of Freedom) party members involved in the government ready to resign.

“Let's go home, Angelino,” says Silvio Berlusconi, “all of us”.

After meeting up to define the next steps of a strenuous opposition against the ousting of Silvio Berlusconi, the allies of the former prime minister seem ready to resign from their posts, starting from the PDL's MPs (by the way: everything started a week after the rebirth of Forza Italia – the original Berlusconi's party – was announced, so this might sign the definitive end of PDL).

“I haven't been sleeping for 55 days” said Silvio Berlusconi (trying to make it clear that wasn't due to infamous bunga-bunga parties or any other activities involving women) “I have lost 11 kilos” (which, by the way, might have been greeted as good news from his girlfriend Francesca Pascale).

Berlusconi and the seaside blitz

Thursday, 15 August 2013 (Assumption of Virgin Mary). As Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers announce they could ask the – otherwise puzzled – head of State Giorgio Napolitano to pardon the former prime minister, a flock of aeroplanes show up on the crowded Italian beaches to spur the support for the disgraced politician.

The "Blitz" seen from Santanchè&Briatore's Twiga beach club

Frenzy weeks ahead in Italy, after Silvio Berlusconi has finally been convicted for tax fraud at the beginning of the month, a sentence that could bring the former prime minister political power to an end (and leave the centre-right hunting for a new leader).  
A protest in Rome was organised in order to express frustration against the Communists-led judiciary, while Beppe Grillo's 5SM is working hard in order to try and strip Silvio Berlusconi of his knighthood and bring the Senate to expel him.

Berlusconi and his political heir (yes, another one...)

Tuesday, 13 August 2013. As Silvio Berlusconi's political future appears more and more doom and gloom, observers, friends and allies of the former prime minister point at his daughter Marina Berlusconi as new leader of the centre-right in Italy.

Marina Berlusconi with her younger  brother Pier Silvio

«I don't believe this will be the end of Berlusconi. The sentence [for tax fraud] will boost his approval» is the opinion of Northern League's founder (and disgraced former secretary) Umberto Bossi, a long-term friend (and sometimes foe) to Silvio Berlusconi, interviewed by Italian wire service ANSA.

Bossi will add that Berlusconi's daughter Marina could pick up the baton, adding to rumours that's been spreading since months.

Berlusconi and the last race

Wednesday, 7 August 2013. An Italian newspaper reveals details of Silvio Berlusconi last attempt to escape from imprisonment.

Silvio Berlusconi, almost ready for the tour

After the Giro d'Italia (the Italian version of the French cycling race Tour de France, which took place in May 2013), according to right-wing newspaper Libero, Italy is going to witness another country-wide event, the Giro della Libertà (i.e. Tour of Freedom in English), a race meant to keep Silvio Berlusconi away from prison (if he's fast enough), after his conviction to a four-year prison term for tax fraud.

What are the details of the tour? The Knight was quotes saying «Until 15 August [Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary], I'll stay put,» to his inner circle he met at his residence in Rome Palazzo Grazioli, «but then I'll make a bang.», before moving on to his villa in Arcore. The objective of all this fuss? Obtain the presidential pardon from head of state Giorgio Napolitano (we assume).

Berlusconi tearful pledge of innocence in front of thousand of supporters

Sunday, 4 August 2013. Thousands of Berlusconi's supporters travel – free of charge – to Rome to listen to Forza Italia's founder pledge of innocence and refusal to be called (and treated as a) fraudster.

Silvio Berlusconi and girlfriend Francesca Pascale, moved and tested

Who thought that Silvio Berlusconi's first definitive conviction would mean get rid of the billionaire and calm down Italy, should think again, as the former prime minister gathered thousands of supporter in a meeting in Rome and Italian politics seems bound to plunge into turmoil.

Berlusconi wants to go to jail, if sentenced... can you believe that?

Saturday, 27 July 2013. Talking to Italian newspaper Libero Quotidiano's director Maurizio Belpietro, Silvio Berlusconi pledges to avoid fleeing the country or resort to house arrest and sit in jail, if he is convicted on Tuesday.

Berlusconi: worried, indifferent or just worn out?

In a couple of days former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will be facing a definitive sentence, as Italy's Supreme Court meets to examine fraud charges against the politician.

Should his war against the judiciary (and his 20-year-long political career) end up this way, he won't follow his former mentor Bettino Craxi's path and leave the country as an exile, but he will try and experience the prison's life, even though – being almost 78 – he could ask to be granted house arrest (and we know that Berlusconi's houses aren't that bad, frequented by young women and hosting merry and gay parties. I mean merry and joyful parties.).

Berlusconi's associates follow Silvio and collect jail terms for sex-related charges

Friday, 19 July 2013. After Silvio Berlusconi's conviction to a 7-year term in prison, three of his associates – Emilio Fede, Lele Mora and Nicole Minetti – receive their share as a Milan's court finds them guilty of aiding and abetting prostitution.

Nicole Minetti in court (here you can find out-of-the-court photos of Nicole Minetti 

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was the first to be convicted in connection with the infamous bunga-bunga parties, he has been sentenced to seven years, together with a lifetime ban on holding public office.

Berlusconi's sentenced was based on charges of abuse of power (as a PM) and paying for sex a minor prostitute, namely the 17-year-old Moroccan nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug (generally known as Ruby the Heartstealer).

Berlusconi denies having had sex for money at all (with any woman in the world, for that matters: he does not need any money to lay females!), denies abuse of power charges (it was just a nice phone call to a police station, to ask agents to release Ruby the Heartstealer, saying that she was the granddaughter of

Silvio Berlusconi and other celebrities

Sunday, February 12, 2006. Ancona. Silvio Berlusconi compares himself to the Lamb of God, and denies being like Napoleon (or second to none but him).

It was during a dinner in a aesthetic centre in Ancona, preparing the campaign for the general election (to be held the next 9 April), that Mr Berlusconi stated "I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I put up with anyone and I sacrifice myself for everybody.".

At the same time, he admitted that he was joking about Napoleon the day before, when he framed “Only Napoleon achieved more than I did. It's true, it's true, and I'm even taller than he was”. Actually one thing turns out to be true: Berlusconi seems to exceed the Corsican leader in height. Bonaparte was said to be 155 cm (or 5 ft 1 in), whilst the Italian prime minister seems to be 160 cm (or 5 ft 2 in), even if it's claiming he's 10 cm taller (3 inches).

On the same dinner, he also said he was sure his party – it was still called Forza Italia, at that time, before merging into the People of Liberty (PdL) with other political forces – could win the general election (but he didn't win, Romano Prodi's coalition won, though with a very narrow victory, of about 24,000 votes out of 38 million) and – when talking about women – said that he was “generally” loyal to his wife.

On the same event, Silvio would also tell one of his famous jokes: "If a man, who turns out to be a supporter of Forza Italy, sticks his hand in the cage of a lion and then withdraws it straight out, you know how would the newspapers headlines look like?" Follower of Berlusconi nicks meal from African immigrant.". If you like Silvio's witty remarks and wisecracks, you might like our page Berlusconi's Quotes.

Video from our YouTube Channel: Berluschannel