Italians must have amnesia

It’s been a while since my latest Berlusconi rant. Here goes (apologies – am stretching the “personal blog” mantra and presumably alienating readers, but feels good to get things off my chest once in a while. Normal service will resume ASAP.)

Before: Following the corruption trials of 1992-94, Berlusconi says he’ll stand for office so as to bring a new lease of life to Italian politics after the shameful antics of the political classes over many years.

After: Berlusconi says the magistrates who brought corrupt politicians to trial had caused great harm to Italy.

Before: Berlusconi says he was never a paying member of the P2 masonic lodge, which was implicated in all manner of crimes from bribing politicians to murdering political “enemies.”

After: Berlusconi’s membership receipt was found.

Before: Berlusconi goes on TV to sign a “contract” with the Italian people in 2001 claiming that he’d never stand for office again if he failed to honour at least four of five pledges in the contract.

After: He honoured one of five pledges. He never mentions the “contract” and stands again in 2006.

Before: Berlusconi gets around legal issues surrounding his ownership of the comically pro-Berlusconi national daily, Il Giornale, by selling it to his brother. The paper (not to mention his weeklies and TV channels) remain comically pro-Berlusconi.

After: Berlusconi says the centre-left has too much control of left-wing newspapers.

Before: Berlusconi says he won’t discuss his pending divorce in public as it’s a private matter.

After: A few days later he goes on the most watched talk-show in Italy to talk about his divorce.

I’ll update this post when I think of more..

UPDATES:

Before: In 1997, Berlusconi cries when Albanians trying to enter Italy by ship are sent back and says he’ll put them up in his homes (the centre-left was in power.)

After: Sheds no tears when a Libyan ship is turned back in 2009. His government is in the process of passing stringent anti-immigration laws that flout EU human rights laws and the Geneva convention. Says he does not believe in a multi-ethnic Italy. Says walking the streets of Milan is like being in Africa.

Before: Shows up at 18 year old showgirl wannabe’s birthday party and says he knows the family because the girl’s father was Craxi’s chauffeur in the 1980s.

After: Turns out the man wasn’t Craxi’s chaffeur but Berlusconi says he never claimed he was although a string of journalists confirmed that he did.

Before: Says he had not met the wannabe showgirl before her 18th birthday party.

After: Photos from before of her at the Milan football club dinner prop up. In addition, it appears the girl was one of 30 or so young girls who spent a week at Berlusconi’s Sardinian villa around New Year’s 2008. The girl’s mother confirmed this.

Before: A convicted mafioso lives at Berlusconi’s for two years in the 1970s and his closest ally and co-founder of  Forza Italia, Marcello Dell’Utri, is convicted of mafia collusion.

After: Berlusconi says he wants the mantle of the man who defeated the mafia to be his legacy.

Before: Berlusconi cracks down on prostitution, in particular targeting those who pay for their services.

After: A prostitute who is annoyed that Berlusconi did not follow up on his promise to help her obtain building permits records and releases a conversation she had with him where they allude to intimate relations they are about to have. A man in Bari is questioned over providing prostitutes for parties hosted by Berlusconi. A string of women confirm that they were paid to attend parties at Berlusconi’s home.

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