Long Live the (Playboy) Emperor!

Berlusconi will wriggle his way out of the latest sex-scandal just as he has done in several situations before, such as his obscure connections with organised crime, conflict of interest, atrocious attacks on parliament, the judiciary and democracy itself, several Ad Personam laws such as granting himself immunity, owning and controlling the majority of TV stations and printed media, creating a party (and maybe a country) in his own image, and endless charges of corruption

In a country where cheating and illegality is glorified, Berlusconi has built an empire which stretches from the commercial and financial world to the political world. He has managed to fill the vacuum left by Mani Pulite and destroyed the opposition. In last year’s elections not only did Berlusconi defeat and demolish the main stream opposition parties but with a little help from Walter Veltroni the radical left was completely obliterated. Nowadays the biggest threat to Berlusconi’s hegemony seems to come from his allies, primarily the racist and macho Lega Nord. Thus, the shrewd Berlusconi is leaning closer to the Lega Nord. This should keep the northern thugs quiet whilst Fini’s AN (which has now integrated into the PDL) seem too weak to pose any serious internal opposition. Moreover, nobody from Berlusconi’s party would dare stand up to him as they all owe their living to the Emperor. The catholic church has distanced itself a little from its biggest political ally but nonetheless I cannot envisage a total collapse in their strange and prickly alliance. In fact I wouldn’t exclude the possibility of a re-marriage with the Christian Democrat UDC.

Is Berlusconi invincible? Well like all self-proclaimed emperors his downfall will be of his own doing…or maybe he will die on the throne, smoking a cigar!