Silvio Berlusconi

There are 13 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 1,183 times. The latest Post (June 15, 2023 at 1:20 AM) was by Rice.

    Without wishing to speak ill of the dead, Silvio Berlusconi was the embodiment of everything bad about politics. Certainly he was larger than life and made sure that Italian politics was never dull. But passing a law that gave him immunity from prosecution (sounds familiar?) and also considering himself above the law during most of his career, wowed many of his fans that adored him, yet spoke volumes about the brash and unconcealed cynicism of the power hungry.

    Silvio Berlusconi obituary: Italy's flamboyant bounce-back politician
    A media mogul who went into politics, he survived several corruption allegations.
    www.bbc.com

    I believe that the admonition not to speak ill of the dead doesn’t apply to world leaders who misuse their power and position.

    Berlusconi was the forerunner of today’s publicity-seeking, egotistical leaders who care nothing for their countrymen or their countries, but use their positions for self-advancement.

    It was an embarrassment for the country, both during and after his years in charge as Prime Minister. Still, as both Splinter and Rice have said, he had adoring fans who were apparently blinds to his misfits, crimes and bad taste at jokes. He was the first populist of Italy and the resemblance to Cristina's style and stories is stunning. Still, I think that Cristina pushed it much further because of poverty in Argentina.

    When he announces he was going into politics, we all thought that we would finally have a leader US-style. He was able to create an empire in his business, could he make Italy great again? Surely we loved to believe so. However, he and his gang were not at all prepared to run a country and I believe that Italian culture and Italy as a country sunk very low because of Berlusconi. If it wasn't him, it would have been someone else, I think.

    Quote from Bombonera

    Well Berlusconi was first up I guess GlasgowJohn . Businessman turned politician. I think in the UK we have more lawyers turned politician but that’s a side issue here.

    Something that runs through my mind quite often is the extent to which the style of Italian politics has influenced Argentine politics over the last 80 years or so.

    Italy is my favourite country in Europe by some distance so I’m not wishing to upset serafina

    I was about to mention that Italian politics surely influenced Argentine politics and looking after Number 1.

    Quote from SpaceNut

    He certainly was boisterous, but very cringy at times , remember "Bunga Bunga"?

    That is EXACTLY the first thing hat comes to mind with him.

    serafina , when Italy elected Berlusconi, you DID get US-style govt - - only you got it before it landed here. But as you said, if it hadn’t been these two miscreants with their “me-first” self-enrichment and self-aggrandizement, it would have been someone else.

    Quote from GlasgowJohn

    Was Berlusconi, Italy's Donald Trump?

    Or is Donald Trump , the USA's Silvio Berlusconi?

    as @Bombonera points out, Silvio was the chicken and The Donald was the egg.