TresSugar

Berlusconi's Mistress Tells Us More Than We Need to Know

TresSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:23 -0800

Italians really take their sex scandals to the next level. Today, Patrizia D'Addario, former call girl mistress to Italy's "I'm no saint" prime minister, adds a "lesbian dimension" to her tale of sex, power, and retaliation.

Patrizia has a book coming out and excerpts reveal that she has been the target of threats, robbery, and violence after going public about her affair with Silvio Berlusconi. But that's not stopping her. Describing a party held at Berlusconi's home, Patrizia shares the prime minister's preference for white silk pajamas and women who like other women. To see an excerpt, read more.

Patrizia writes:

"Other girls arrived, including a pair of lesbians, and a few other escorts. . . My first thought was that I'd found myself in a harem. He was on the couch and all of us, 20 girls in all, were at his disposition."

While the presence of lesbians probably seems relatively inconsequential, it might upset Italian citizens who were otherwise willing to dismiss heterosexual escapades. And as the Guardian reports, Berlusconi can say good-bye to a recent break from bad press: "The publication of D'Addario's book will divert public attention back to the affair after a period in which the focus had been on another sex scandal involving the former center-left governor of the region around Rome. Piero Marrazzo resigned after being filmed taking drugs and having sex with a transsexual." Mama mia.

Berlusconi Insults Women Again - And They're Fighting Back

TresSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Feminism is back in vogue in Italy. Some say it lay dormant in spite of a vibrant '70s feminist movement, but thanks to raging misogynist Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, largely silent Italian women have had enough and are speaking up.

"[T]he scandals surrounding the prime minister have been like a violent slap in the face for millions of women who are just now waking up from a state of passivity," said political scientist Francesca Izzo.

A favorite tactic of the 73-year-old Berlusconi is to disparage the looks of his female political opponents. In a heated debate with 58-year-old opposition party member Rosy Bindi, he said, "You're more beautiful than you are intelligent," to which the annoyed politician shot back, "I am not a woman at your disposal." (Perhaps she was referring to his multiple girlfriends, which finally led his wife to file for a divorce.)

Many American women claim they aren't feminists, but I wonder if they'd change their tune if the president were speaking this way every day! To find out how Italian women are fighting back and to see a clip of a documentary about how women are represented on Italian television, read more

After Berlusconi's nasty comment to Rosy Bindi, pissed off women drafted a petition saying that his sexism was an insult both to women and to democracy. 11 days later, more than 100,000 women had signed it, claiming that Berlusconi participated in the "cretinization of women."

It took long enough for more women to speak up, but it's great they finally did it. Alas, Italian feminists have more than Berlusconi and his rhetoric to fight. In the following clip from filmmaker Lorella Zanardo's documentary Women's Bodies, you'll see that almost all the representations of women on Italian television depict them as sex objects.

Front Page: Italian Prime Minister Calls Obamas "Suntanned"

TresSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:15 -0700

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi calls Barack and Michelle Obama unbelievably "suntanned" after meeting them at the G20. - The Telegraph
Meanwhile, Barack and Michelle will visit Denmark this week to pitch for Chicago as the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics. - Politico
Dick Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney, is a rising star in the GOP. - New York Times
Iran test fired long-range missiles today that are capable of reaching countries including Greece, Russia, and Italy. - CNN

Gimme a Break: Berlusconi Treated For Scandal-Related Stress

TresSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:54 -0700

Until now, Silvio Berlusconi has sounded pretty laid-back about this whole sex scandal thing. He dismissively declared "I am not a saint" in response to recorded conversations between him and a prostitute. But now it seems the bad press is taking its toll: the Italian prime minister is leaving on a three-week holiday complete with hydrotherapy and a diet and exercise regimen designed to relieve stress and "restore the 'natural harmony' of the body."

Perhaps it's Berlusconi's daughter who deserves a break. In the latest issue of Italian Vanity Fair, 25-year-old Barbara Berlusconi says she is "astounded" by the news that her father was cavorting with an 18-year-old model. But wait! There's more.

Italy OKs Abortion Pill, Vatican to Excommunicate Doctors

TresSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:51:13 -0700

Over the objections of the Vatican, Italy recently approved the use of RU486, commonly known as the abortion pill.

The pill, which can only be taken up to the seventh week of pregnancy, will not be sold in Italian pharmacies - only doctors will be allowed to administer it. The Vatican has made its opposition clear, promising that any doctor who does administer it will be excommunicated (along with the women who take it). According to the Italian health ministry, 70 percent of Italian doctors refuse to carry out abortions in the predominately Catholic country.

Unlike the morning after pill (Plan B), which prevents a pregnancy that hasn't happened yet, RU-486 causes the termination of an existing pregnancy. Italian law permits surgical abortion "on demand" within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and until the 24th week if the fetus has genetic defects or if the mother's health is in danger. Now women will have legal access to a chemically induced abortion as an alternative to the surgical procedure.

Italy's Berlusconi: I'm No Saint

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0700

He might be powerful, but Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is "no saint." In the latest chapter of his long story of sex scandals, Berlusconi responds to new audio recordings between himself and a prostitute. He takes the what-did-you-expect approach, saying:

"There are tons of good-looking girls and entrepreneurs out there. I am not a saint, you've all understood that. I hope those at La Repubblica also understands that."

La Repubblica, a left-leaning Italian newspaper, published the recordings earlier this week. In them, Berlusconi allegedly tells a paid escort to wait for him in "Putin's bed," a bed apparently given to Berlusconi as a gift from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. How romantic!

Venice Welcomes Its First Female Gondolier

TresSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0700

After 900 years of being an all boys' club, Venice's canals have welcomed a woman.

Twenty-three-year-old Giorgia Boscolo, the daughter of a gondolier, has become the first woman to officially "man" the banana-shaped boats. The word for female gondolier - gondoliera - didn't even exist before Giorgia passed the rigorous qualifying exams.

As for Giorgia's father, the man who got her interested in the profession, he still thinks being a gondolier is a man's job. But that hasn't stopped him from posing with his daughter as Mr. and Ms. April in a 2010 calendar of "sexy gondoliers." How . . . sweet?

View 5 Photos ›

Front Page: World Leaders Arrive in Italy For G8 Summit

TresSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:53 -0700

World leaders have arrived in Italy for the G8 summit on the economic crisis. Their host, Silvio Berlusconi, led them on a tour of the medieval town of L'Aquila, which was hit by an earthquake in April. - AP
Sarah Palin's popularity has risen among Republicans since she announced her resignation as Alaska's governor. - USA Today
Karl Rove finally testified today, as Congress tries to figure out his role in the Department of Justice attorney-firing scandal. - Politico
Google is taking on Microsoft by launching a PC operating system. - Financial Times
At least 40 people in Pakistan have been killed by suspected US drones. - BBC

First Wives Urged to Stay Away From Sexist Berlusconi's Italy

TresSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:30:53 -0700

How do you say "sexist" in Italian? Berlusconi. At least that's what a group of female academics in Italy think. They're urging wives of male G8 leaders to stay home from the G8 conference to be hosted by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi next month in Italy.

While the Obamas offer Americans at least a picture of marital bliss, Italians are being treated to a messy divorce. Since Berlusconi's wife of 20 years Veronica Lario filed for divorce in April, a colorful series of allegations about his love life and treatment of women have come out. The 72-year-old leader, who has had his fair share of other scandals including countless criminal trials, has been accused of having an affair with an 18-year-old and hiring paid escorts. Of course, he denies any "spicy" relations.

The academics also call into question Berlusconi's attempt to appoint showgirls, actresses, and a Big Brother contestant as candidates in the European elections.

Perhaps the first wives will attend, if only so their husbands have less free time to spend with their Italian host.

Quote of the Day

CitizenSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:30:45 -0700

"They have everything they need, they have medical care, hot food . . . Of course, their current lodgings are a bit temporary, but they should see it like a weekend of camping."

- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi added to his list of gaffes, by showing a lack of sympathy for the homeless victims of the earthquake who are sleeping in tents or in their cars.

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