Silvio Berlusconi

Watch and learn. Continue reading »

The Italian government reacted angrily Tuesday to the decision by the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s to downgrade its debt, describing the move as out of touch with reality…Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s office issued a statement early Tuesday noting that his government had a solid majority in Parliament. It said the government was preparing steps to lift growth and recently passed measures to control public finances through tax increases and spending cuts. “The evaluations of Standard & Poor’s seem dictated more by behind the scenes reports in newspapers than reality and seems influenced by political considerations,” the statement said. [NYT]

Not even her position as the world’s most powerful woman has prevented German Chancellor Angela Merkel from becoming the victim of playboy premier Silvio Berlusconi’s sexist language. The gaffe-prone tycoon has been overheard referring to the German leader as an “unfuckable lard-arse”, according to wiretaps reported by Italian newspapers. [Independent]