Thursday, April 30, 2009
ROME (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi may be one of Italy’s most popular politicians, but the premier’s approval ratings are sinking fast with at least one Italian — his wife.
Veronica Lario publicly voiced her rage over reports that Berlusconi’s party was lining up a troupe of TV showgirls and starlets as candidates for June’s European Parliament elections.
Berlusconi contended the reported plans were a fabrication of the opposition and left-leaning media. When the official list of candidates was presented Wednesday, one of the reported names — Barbara Matera, a former Miss Italy contestant — was included, though some other names that had circulated were not.
Berlusconi already has faced trouble at home and widespread criticism for flirting with women and filling his political ranks with female stars, including a Cabinet minister.
Two years ago, Lario received a quick and public apology from Berlusconi when she wrote to a newspaper complaining about a compliment her husband had paid to TV starlet Mara Carfagna, now the minister for equal opportunities.
Late Tuesday, Lario released a statement to the ANSA news agency, slamming the party’s alleged election plans as “shameless rubbish” that offended her, her children and women in general.
“Somebody has written that this is all for the entertainment of the emperor,” she said. “I agree. What emerges from the newspapers is shameless rubbish, all in the name of power.”
Lario’s public rage came after days of debate in which even Berlusconi’s allies raised eyebrows over reports by left-leaning newspapers that the party’s candidates could include a Big Brother contestant, as well as actresses and models.
Alessandra Mussolini, a right-wing politician, dictator Benito Mussolini’s granddaughter and a former actress herself, ironically suggested the leading coalition should also have male models run for office as a measure of fairness.
Lario, also a former actress, is Berlusconi’s second wife and the couple have three children.
Attempts to reach her were not successful.