Politics is a world that is often inhabited by characters that might charitably be described as “colorful.” But if there is one man who dwarfs all his rivals in this category, it’s Silvio Berlusconi.
Media tycoon, sports fanatic, billionaire playboy, and statesman -- this is a man who wants to have a finger in every pie. Owner of one of the most celebrated sports teams in the world, the mighty A.C. Milan, and three-time elected leader of Italy, this is a man who should be well-versed in diplomacy and tact. This, it seems, is his one weakness. Although in the light of recent allegations of prostitutes and sex parties, perhaps it is one of two weaknesses.
Like an elderly relative who has never quite got the hang of internal monologue, Silvio can always be relied upon to say something indelicate. His insults, his attempts at compliments and his bizarre jokes are often the source of domestic or international outcry. Today, we will look at 10 of the most outrageous moments he has blessed us with. If nothing else, he makes what would be an otherwise dull news day a little more remarkable.
Silvio attacks the voters
Elections seemingly bring out the best (or worst, depending on your perspective) in Berlusconi. In 2006, prior to an election, he said that anyone who didn’t vote for him was a “dickhead,” and that he did not think there were “many pricks around who would vote against their own best interests.” He lost. In 2008, in his final rally, Berlusconi was at it again, suggesting that, “I do not believe that Italians could be retarded enough to fall into a trap like this,” in reference to voting for the opposition party. If anyone knows how to alienate the voters, it’s Silvio.
Berlusconi offends Finland
As political targets go, Finland isn’t obvious. It always seems like a country that minds its own business. But Silvio has upset them twice, once by suggesting that he needed to “use all my playboy tactics, even if they have not been used for some time” in order to get the support of their female President. He also insulted Finnish cuisine, saying, “I've been to Finland and I had to endure the Finnish diet.” These comments resulted in the Italian ambassador being summoned for talks. Attacking a country’s leader and its culture, it would appear, are something of a specialty for Berlusconi.
Berlusconi insults female political rival
Silvio usually comes out fighting in the run-up to important elections. Only this time, he was riding a wave of public sympathy after being bloodied by an assault with a souvenir model of a Milan cathedral. But he chose to attack one of his opponents in the most extraordinary manner: “You know why Bresso is always in a bad mood? Because in the morning, when she gets up, she looks at herself in the mirror to put her makeup on -- and sees herself. And so her day is already ruined.” Well done Silvio, way to compound that lowest-ever approval rating.
Berlusconi picks models as election candidates
When Silvio decided that he wanted some fresh faces to stand for election, he was at least true to his word. But it certainly raised a few eyebrows when his shortlist was put forward. It featured a topless model, a Big Brother contestant and a soap opera actress. To explain his rather unusual selection, he said, "I want to give Europe a new image of my People of Freedom Party. I want new, young faces.” Mission accomplished, Silvio. Except the image he tried to create was more like something out of Playboy, rather than a serious political party.
Berlusconi insults China
It is no secret that Silvio Berlusconi dislikes left-wing politics. But in 2006, a month before a general election, he took things to a whole different level, when he attacked China. He said, “I am accused of having said that the [Chinese] Communists used to eat children. But read The Black Book of Communism, and you will discover that in the China of Mao, they did not eat children, but had them boiled to fertilize the fields.” In a rare moment of self-awareness, he conceded that, “This joke is questionable. But I did not know how to restrain myself.” As is so often the case, Silvio.
via askmen
Barack Obama is “suntanned”
During a visit to Russia in 2008, Berlusconi tried to suggest that Obama would build good relations with Russia because he is “young, good-looking and suntanned.” If that was not enough for Silvio, who seemed rather pleased with that quip, he added further to it in 2009. Days after being snubbed by Michelle Obama, he went onstage at a rally of his supporters and repeated the “joke,” adding, “His wife is also suntanned.” He countered those who suggested the comments were in poor taste with his customary tact and wit, calling them “imbeciles without any sense of humor.”
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Beautiful secretaries
In 2003, Silvio made a trip to the United States, where he attended a business function at the New York Stock Exchange. While he was there, he made a speech intended to encourage more investment in Italy. So how did he try to encourage businessmen? Was it by tax breaks, government grants and highlighting the advanced infrastructure of Italy, or the easy access to European and North African markets? Er, not exactly. He suggested instead that people should invest in Italy because, “We have beautiful secretaries... superb girls” and “fewer communists.” As long as he knows what matters.
"Better to love beautiful women than to be gay"
This is one of his most recent gaffes, and comes in the midst of the “bunga-bunga” scandal. Accused of an abuse of power by intervening in the criminal case of a 17-year-old Moroccan runaway, and alleged to have had orgies, his defense was simple. Attributing his actions to the fact that his “sense of solidarity is very strong,” he added that “it is better to love beautiful women than to be gay.” As a defense against the charges he stands accused of, it isn’t the best. As another example of Berlusconi putting his foot in his mouth, it is right up there.
The Nazi incident
Arguably one of his most poorly thought-out jokes was when he suggested that a Socialist German MEP, Martin Schultz, would be perfect in the role of a Nazi concentration camp guard. This was only the second day in which Italy had been in charge of the presidency of the European Union. His ability to cause offense so quickly is perhaps a record, even for him. He attempted to explain the comments by saying that they had been “an ironic joke.” It led to a significant cooling of relations between Italy and Germany for a time.