Berlusconi: new trial for bribing senators, in quite a few occasions

Wednesday, 12 February 2014. A new investigation began today in Naples, regarding a few circumstances in which Berlusconi might gave offered money and other benefits to senators who would cast a favourable vote for the ex-prime minister.

Corruption what? 

There were a few situations in which Italian senators from a number of political sides took a last minute decision and turned against the will of their parties and voted in favour of Mr Berlusconi, and these circumstances sounded a bit fishy to some judges in Naples, who decided to investigate them. At least that's what we've learned from the news.

All this could cause new headaches to the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has already been sentenced for tax fraud, is currently appealing against a prison sentence for having sex with an under-age prostitute and abuse of office (and the proceedings are now contiuing on the grouds that witnesses might have been bribed by Berlusconi), and was kicked out of the Senate of Italy (due to the first conviction).

Silvio Berlusconi and the shock proposal to make Swiss bankers fund Italian property tax reimbursement

Sunday, February 3, 2013. “Even imbeciles are able to invent new taxes” says Silvio Berlusconi, explaining that he is an intelligent one who will make the Swiss pay for it.

Silvio Berlusconi had a vision: in the first meeting of the new ministers' cabinet – where the newly elected Silvio will play the role of the Economy and Finance Minister – there will be decided the scrapping of the unpopular property tax called IMU, and the reimbursement of the tax the Italians paid during 2012 (the media tycoon called it a «shock proposal», his rival Gianfranco Fini, the chair of the house of representatives, has another idea, he replied on Twitter that in his second cabinet meeting, Berlusconi would «decree that everybody wins the lottery»).

Promises, promises!

How? In a previous attempt to convince the Italians how he would abolish the propriety tax (when the former prime minister faced his long-term enemy Michele Santoro on his TV show) Silvio Berlusconi declared he would raise new taxes on tobaccos, spirits and gambling.

Then the ex-premier of Italy realised that he needs to be (even) smarter. «Even imbeciles are able to invent news taxes», declared the billionaire to his supporters yesterday, on a speech in Milan, then he pledged to convince the Swiss banks to help him to tax Italian assets and activities in Switzerland. Not only they have to pay a one off tribute of 25 billion euro (about £21.7bn or $33.9bn), but – in Silvio's mind – they will be keeping on paying €5bn every year.

Doesn't it sound as a tax, Silvio? Are you an imbecile?

Anyhow, the problem isn't exactly there - someone would argue – but in the fact that nobody ever convinced the Swiss bankers to do so! 

Never mind, thinks Silvio, they (the new government made up by the People of Liberty party and friends) will do it, they will convince them.

And in the meanwhile, they take – as a loan – the money from the postal savings system (CDP).

Simple, isn't it?

Berlusconi and the phone call with his sweetheart Nicole Minetti

Sunday, August 1, 2010 – 12:15pm. Silvio Berlusconi calls his (alleged) girlfriend Nicole Minetti and they chat about the political situation, the scandal about Gianfranco Fini's flat in Montecarlo, the sex-trial Rubygate, and much much more.

Silvio Berlusconi: Hello darling
Nicole Minetti: Hey, hello!
Silvio Berlusconi: how is my talented Councillor?
Nicole Minetti: Well, well. And how are you?
Silvio Berlusconi: Everybody speaks so highly of you, I am so glad
Nicole Minetti: Really?
Silvio Berlusconi: Really, sweetheart
Nicole Minetti: Yes
Silvio Berlusconi: Yes, yes.
Nicole Minetti: Who?
Silvio Berlusconi: Everybody, everybody. Those from the [Northern] League, our men...
Nicole Minetti: Come on!
Silvio Berlusconi: Recently Giorgio Puricelli [Lombardy Region PdL's Councillor]
Nicole Minetti: Okay, very good. I am happy, you know?
Silvio Berlusconi: eh, eh
Nicole Minetti: Well, well.
Silvio Berlusconi: And are you happy?
Nicole Minetti: A lot! Of course I'm happy, I am very happy!
Silvio Berlusconi: mmmmh
Nicole Minetti: Absolutely!
Silvio Berlusconi: So, when we hold elections, you can get into the [Italian] Parliament
Nicole Minetti: Obviously! But I think I will take sides with Freedom and Future [movement led by Silvio Berlusconi's rival and PdL deserter Gianfranco Fini] of (laugh)


Silvio Berlusconi: Aaaa. We aaare...
Nicole Minetti: Come on, it's a joke... have a laugh!
Silvio Berlusconi: We are, we are, we are in a huge mess, yes, I am laughing, I am, but we still are in a huge mess, huh?
Nicole Minetti: Oh my God, oh my God, that's terrible
Silvio Berlusconi: But have you read the newspapers?
Nicole Minetti: When, today?
Silvio Berlusconi: Yes.
Nicole Minetti: No, today I haven't yet.
Silvio Berlusconi: So, this one [alluding to Gianfranco Fini, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies] he took this flat, that was bequeathed by a woman to his party
Nicole Minetti: Yes
Silvio Berlusconi: And he sold it... He sold it... the value was 2 million euro and he sold it for 67,000 euro to... practically himself.
Nicole Minetti: I don't believe that.
Silvio Berlusconi: Yes. And he put into into it his wife's brother, who lives there.
Nicole Minetti: (laugh)
Silvio Berlusconi: The whole thing happened in Montecarlo [Principality of Monaco], through an offshore company
Nicole Minetti: Noooo.
Silvio Berlusconi: And then his mouth is full of worlds like morality and lawfulness.
Nicole Minetti: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, no, no.
Silvio Berlusconi: And do you know where he lives?
Nicole Minetti: No
Silvio Berlusconi: He lives in his partner's home...
Nicole Minetti: Yes.
Silvio Berlusconi: The house that his partner nicked from Gaucci [Luciano Gaucci, Italian entrepreneur], who registered it in her name, in order to avoid seizure from creditors...
Nicole Minetti: Can you realise that?
Silvio Berlusconi: … and when he asked it back, she did not give it back.
Nicole Minetti: Those are the worst, it's the worst, he is the worst. I mean, it's crazy... It's crazy, he is disgusting.

Silvio Berlusconi: And now how can we keep him there President of the Chamber. And the newspapers don't talk about this. Only the newspaper Libero talks about it.
Nicole Minetti: Of course.
Silvio Berlusconi: And another disgusting thing, the famous free Italian press, it's disgusting.
Nicole Minetti: Yes, yes, it's true, it's true, it's true. I can remember a very good article written by Feltri [Vittorio Feltri], if I'm not wrong, some time ago, about a house of De Mita, straight away, in Rome, you know... Silvio Berlusconi: Yes, yes. Nicole Minetti: … about the fact he got it from INPS [Italian National Institute of Social Security]. The fact is that, in the end, the newspapers don't talk about it.
Silvio Berlusconi: Yes, but here we are not talking about a discount over the rent, or a whatsit, here the fact is that somebody steals from his own party, do you understand?
NB: Yes, yes, it's disgusting. He isn't even a member, did you know it?
Silvio Berlusconi: Yes, he isn't a member.
Nicole Minetti: He's not a member.
Silvio Berlusconi: No... So now, we have to bump him off, because he so mad at us... he's full of hate for me... because of the newspapers, for everything, that is irrepressible.
Nicole Minetti: Yes, he is envious, because in the end...
Silvio Berlusconi: Alright.
Nicole Minetti: (mimbles something, but Silvio Berlusconi doesn't allow her to talk)
Silvio Berlusconi: Listen, I am at war, what do you do on holiday? Were are you going with Ba... you and Barbie [Barbara Faggioli]. Are you together?
Nicole Minetti: I still don't know, we haven't talked yet.
Silvio Berlusconi: And what about Barbie?
Nicole Minetti: Well, sh is well, absolutely very well, she is good.
Silvio Berlusconi: mmh
Nicole Minetti: She is studying.
Silvio Berlusconi: Good, very well, very w... Giorgio told me you were in Villa d'Este.
Nicole Minetti: Yeees, we went to Villa d'Este and Giorgio Pozzi was there too and everything yes, we were well, no worries. They are crazy, anyway, aren't they?
Silvio Berlusconi: What do you mean?
Nicole Minetti: Come on, they are crazy. Giorgio Pozzi is crazy az a loon.
Silvio Berlusconi: Really?
Nicole Minetti: Oh my God, yes!
Silvio Berlusconi: Why?
Nicole Minetti: Because he is. He's crazy, but makes you laugh, he's nice, but he is crazy. Silvio Berlusconi: (incomprehensible)
Nicole Minetti: He had a Rumanian girl there, he had.
Silvio Berlusconi: A Rumanian girl?
Nicole Minetti: I swear! (laugh)
Silvio Berlusconi: (laugh) … but presentable or not?
Nicole Minetti: A piece of ass.
Silvio Berlusconi: What.
Nicole Minetti: A piece of ass.
Silvio Berlusconi: Aaah, a piece of... in that case.
Nicole Minetti: Yes, yes. And also a good friend of Flo [Florina Marincea], get that.
Silvio Berlusconi: Just think!
Nicole Minetti: Yes. (laugh)
Silvio Berlusconi: That Flo, did you see, she made those 10 pages with Roncuzzi?
Nicole Minetti: Yes, yes, yes.
Silvio Berlusconi: That's shameful.
Nicole Minetti: My goodness, it can't be, it can't be.
Silvio Berlusconi: Oh well, listen sweetheart, where are you, in Rimini or Milan?
Nicole Minetti: No, I'm in Milan, I am.
Silvio Berlusconi: mmmh, in Milan, in Milan...
Silvio Berlusconi: Unfortunately I'm leaving for Rome...
Nicole Minetti: I know, because tomorrow you'll be...
Silvio Berlusconi: yeah... with the senator... and so on... mmmh
Nicole Minetti: but when do you leave, at what time do you leave?
Silvio Berlusconi: eeh, I leave... now.
Nicole Minetti: Really?
Silvio Berlusconi: And I still have this arm aching, I cannot even hold the mouthpiece of the telephone in my hand.
Nicole Minetti: It's still there?
Silvio Berlusconi: Still there, still there. Can't understand what is it.
Nicole Minetti: Mamma mia.
Silvio Berlusconi: Prepare yourself to see me without an arm.
Nicole Minetti: Exaggerated! Do you know that the other day in the council came to me Giuliante [Gianluca Giuliante, PdL's lawyer], to talk to me about the Ruby story?
Silvio Berlusconi: And who is this Giuliante?
Nicole Minetti: Giuliante is the PdL's [People of Liberty party] lawyer, as well as... Lele's [Lele Mora]
Silvio Berlusconi: So he practically came over there, because... he called my assistant, and told her “Look, I have to talk to Nicole, I have to talk to Nicole” , came over to the Council, and practically told me the whole story, about this prosecutor, his name is Forno, who is following the case, who practically say that according to him, not now, but in September, he will call me because, anyway both Ruby and the other ass-hole Michelle [Michelle Conceicao] have put my name forward... and well, nothing, he told me about how were things going, and so on, because they opened an investigation over this Michelle, because in fact it's true that Ruby denounced her
Silvio Berlusconi: So Ruby denounced Michelle?
Nicole Minetti: Yes, for inducement of prostitution
Silvio Berlusconi: Can't be.
Nicole Minetti: Yes.
Silvio Berlusconi: You mean that someone labels herself as ...?
Nicole Minetti: Yes, yes.
Silvio Berlusconi: You mean that someone labels herself a whore?
Nicole Minetti: Yes. (laugh)
Silvio Berlusconi: By herself.
Nicole Minetti: I swear.
Silvio Berlusconi: Crazy stuff. Well, what is important that several persons can testify that she told us an age different as in reality.
Nicole Minetti: Of course. Clear. Of course, of course, of course.
Silvio Berlusconi: If that happens, nothing more will happen.
Nicole Minetti: And then...
Silvio Berlusconi: We just helped her because we felt pity for her.
Nicole Minetti: Yes, because he told me that this Forno has also some photos in his hands. Who gave them to him? Michelle.
Silvio Berlusconi: (long pause) I understand.
Nicole Minetti: (giggles)
Silvio Berlusconi:Oh well, let's hope it won't become a mess.
Nicole Minetti: No, but... let's hope.
Silvio Berlusconi: Well, a littler is enough for...
Nicole Minetti: I know.
Silvio Berlusconi: If it's about me, all the newspaper are happy
Nicole Minetti: In fact it's like that.
Silvio Berlusconi: Anyhow, we didn't do anything wrong...
Nicole Minetti: Nooo, in fact.
Silvio Berlusconi: It's a just a teasing.
Nicole Minetti: Indeed, indeed.
Silvio Berlusconi: Very well, okay. Ciao. I'll ring you one of these days, than we meet up before the end of the week, if you are around. Ciao sweetheart.
Nicole Minetti: Ciao sweetheart, a big kiss.

Silvio Berlusconi and the broader moderate alliance

Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Silvio Berlusconi makes a U-turn and declares willingness to back Mario Monti in case of the creation of a broader moderate alliance to beat Italian left-wingers.

Mario Monti, the guy Berlusconi a few days ago dubbed as “beholden to Germany”, acting as a quasi-accomplice of Angela Merkel to try to "topple a majority government elected by the Italians” by using a scam (the spread-scam), leading a government that brought Italy to “the brink of the abyss” is now the favourite candidate of the Italian media tycoon? Can you believe that? Berlusconi is forcing Mario Monti to resign in order to vote for Monti as a Prime Minister?

Yet another brainwave? Or just going nuts?

Italian former Prime Minister took the occasion of a public event – the televised presentation of start TV anchorman Bruno Vespa's latest book – to inform the public of the last of his U-turn. Mr Berlusconi said the he "proposed to Monti to be the candidate as leader for the moderate centre coalition and he said he didn't want to. If his position changes, I would have no problem with stepping back ... I have no personal ambitions".

Silvio Berlusconi and the spirit of '94

Saturday, November 24, 2012. Silvio Berlusconi might change his mint and run for prime minister, relaunching Forza Italia party and spirit, and (politically) killing his (former) heir apparent Angelino Alfano. Or he might not.

The Spirit of '94

I won't run, I might run, I won't run, I might run... after a few turnabout, a couple of somersault, and at least one volte-face, Silvio Berlusconi declared that – after all - he may seek to run in 2013 election further deteriorating the chaotic situation in centre-right PdL party (People of Freedom).

"I am thinking about it.", replied the former Italian Prime Minister, when asked by reporters whether he was contemplating his return “to the playing field" next spring when parliamentary elections will take place (presumably on the 10^th of March 2013), in order to pick a new Italian Prime Minister and government to take over from technocrat Mario Monti. Silvio Berlusconi has been talking to revive Forza Italia's spirit for a while, as the only way to redeem his party.

Silvio Berlusconi and the odd kidnapping

Tuesday, November 20, 2012. It turns out the Giuseppe Spinelli, the so-called Berlusconi's cashier, was rapidly kidnapped and release on the 15 October, on an attempt to obtain a ransom.

71-year-old Giuseppe Spinelli, Berlusconi's accountant

Giuseppe Spinelli is on of the most trustworthy member of Silvio Berlusconi's team, he was in charge of paying out allowances and rent for the so-called Olgettine, a bunch of young women (currently Elisa Toti, Aris Espinoza, Ioana Visan, Marysthelle Polanco and Eleonora De Vivo) recruited by former councillor Nicole Minetti. The former Italian prime minister of Italy is taking care of the beauties, habitué on bunga-bunga parties (details in our post “Silvio Berlusconi and the bunga bunga army”).

On the night of the 15^th of October Mr Spinelly and his wife apparently were kidnapped and detained in they very home, for 11 hours, by a gang of criminals, lead by a native of Bari wearing a black and red (AC Milan colours) shoes, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

Silvio Berlusconi and his resignation

Saturday, November 8, 2011. Many people are waiting for Silvio Berlusconi's resignation, in the streets, on the Internet, whilst still fearing a last minute trick from the Cavaliere.

Berlusconi's farewell

Silvio Berlusconi's end has been anticipated since, at least, the 14^th of December 2010. Many were convinced that on that day the Italian prime minister would lose the majority in the Parliament, after Gianfranco Fini's Future and Freedom split, and bring to an end his government.

But the Cavaliere's end did not come. He managed to find unexpected allies, and his government carried on, even though it was barely able to pass the deep reforms Italy needed – and needs – in order to get rid of his enormous debt of almost €1.9trn and start to grow again, after a decade of stagnation.

Scilipoti's protest

The game lasted almost 12 months, but now seems to be definitely over, as last Tuesday some “traitors” (as the Italian Silvio called them) left the sinking boat, paving the way for the “coup d'etat” (as Scilipoti, Berlusconi's ally, put it) of Gianfranco Fini, supported by the banks lobby.

Today the Italian Parliament has approved the financial stability law, and Silvio Berlusconi – a few days ago – stated that will be the final act of the current government, and he will resign.

So today it could be – and should be – the day, as the Italian population is preparing to celebrate. On Twitter and Facebook the tension increases.

Will he go for good, this time?

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