Berlusconi mocked for his latest gaffe
Source: Agencies |
May 28, 2011, Saturday
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SILVIO Berlusconi's latest international gaffe, when he complained to a bemused United States president about his problems with magistrates, stirred mockery, embarrassment and scorn at home yesterday.
Barack Obama looked baffled when television cameras picked up the Italian prime minister buttonholing him at a G8 meeting in France and treating him to one of his trademark tirades about magistrates who have hauled him into court for four concurrent trials.
Microphones picked up Berlusconi telling Obama: "We have presented a justice reform that is fundamental to us. In Italy we have almost a dictatorship of leftist judges."
The incident prompted widespread negative press coverage ahead of local elections tomorrow and Monday where Berlusconi risks suffering a humiliating defeat that could finally mark a decline in his political dominance.
"The prime minister has clearly lost his head," said La Repubblica newspaper in a front page editorial.
Pierluigi Bersani, leader of the largest opposition party, quipped that Berlusconi was probably asking Obama for NATO military action against the judges.
The national magistrates association was incensed by the remarks. "It is very serious that ... a fundamental state institution should be denigrated in front of one of the most powerful heads of state in the world," said the association's leader Luca Palamara.
Berlusconi says left-wing judges have tried to pervert democracy by bringing 31 cases against him in 17 years, of which 24 have been shelved or resulted in his acquittal.
There are widespread expectations that the left will win a run-off in Milan this weekend, which could lead to calls for Berlusconi to be dumped by the center-right.
Barack Obama looked baffled when television cameras picked up the Italian prime minister buttonholing him at a G8 meeting in France and treating him to one of his trademark tirades about magistrates who have hauled him into court for four concurrent trials.
Microphones picked up Berlusconi telling Obama: "We have presented a justice reform that is fundamental to us. In Italy we have almost a dictatorship of leftist judges."
The incident prompted widespread negative press coverage ahead of local elections tomorrow and Monday where Berlusconi risks suffering a humiliating defeat that could finally mark a decline in his political dominance.
"The prime minister has clearly lost his head," said La Repubblica newspaper in a front page editorial.
Pierluigi Bersani, leader of the largest opposition party, quipped that Berlusconi was probably asking Obama for NATO military action against the judges.
The national magistrates association was incensed by the remarks. "It is very serious that ... a fundamental state institution should be denigrated in front of one of the most powerful heads of state in the world," said the association's leader Luca Palamara.
Berlusconi says left-wing judges have tried to pervert democracy by bringing 31 cases against him in 17 years, of which 24 have been shelved or resulted in his acquittal.
There are widespread expectations that the left will win a run-off in Milan this weekend, which could lead to calls for Berlusconi to be dumped by the center-right.
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