100,000 women: We’re offended by Berlusconi

ROME (AP) — More than 100,000 women have signed a petition saying they are offended by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi — an initiative launched by a newspaper after the premier made a sexist remark to an opposition politician.

Berlusconi, 73, made the jab during a call to a late-night talk show Oct. 7 that featured, among other guests, Rosy Bindi, a 58-year-old former minister who dresses conservatively, wears glasses and has short, gray hair.

“You are always more beautiful than intelligent,” Berlusconi told her. She snapped back: “I’m not one of the women at your disposal.”

Berlusconi’s remark sparked outrage and prompted three prominent Italian intellectuals to draft a petition stating that Berlusconi uses women’s bodies for his political ends, denigrating women and democracy in the process.

“This man offends us. Stop him,” reads the petition, which has been signed by well-known Italian artists, musicians and television personalities as well as ordinary Italians.

The left-leaning La Repubblica daily, which has been at the forefront of exposing accusations of impropriety against Berlusconi over his relations with young women and been sued by the premier as a result, is organizing the petition and reported Thursday that more than 100,000 women had signed.