by GIUSEPPE D'AVANZOSilvio Berlusconi answers the Ten Questions of Repubblica, after 175 days, 10 hours and 18 minutes (the patient computation is by one of our readers, Michele De Luca). Questions that the head of government has judged to be so slanderous as to require compensation to the tune of millions for the offence received. The questions were - as Berlusconi demonstrates today - wholly legitimate. For that matter, they were in keeping with a conviction of his. This: I believe that anyone charged with public office, such as the Prime Minister, ought to account for his behaviour, including private. ("Porta a Porta," May 5, 2009).
Repubblica agrees with Silvio Berlusconi. It is evident that, despite the media uproar of these months, the discussion has never been about a divorce - a private matter between husband and wife - or gossip or private life. As was immediately clear to the Premier, the issue has to do with the behaviour of "a person charged with public office."
Berlusconi has not deemed it opportune to reply directly to our questions. He has entrusted his answers to Bruno Vespa - a public television journalist and collaborator of a weekly magazine (Panorama) owned by the Prime Minister - in a book published by Mondadori, owned by Berlusconi. Here we recall the questions, and give an account of the Premier's answers. One notices some untruths, more than one contradiction, the dissembling and omissions that the head of government has accustomed us to.
LO SPECIALE
1) When did you first meet Noemi Letizia? How many times have you met her and where? Have you frequented or do you frequent other minors?
Berlusconi, today: "I never have had any affair with this young lady Noemi. In this regard, everything that has been said and written is just slander." Berlusconi maintains "having met the girl just four times." Where and when? The Premier authorises Vespa to relate: "The first time on 19th November, when Noemi was a guest at Villa Madama ... the second on 15th September at the Milan football club Christmas party... the third at Villa Certosa, where the girl was invited to pass the New Year's holidays with some female friends ... the fourth, at her birthday party."
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Repubblica has documented, with testimony never refuted, how the Premier met Noemi Letizia thanks to a book of photos. Berlusconi instead states having met Noemi on four occasions, and, therefore, in the only circumstances already discovered by Repubblica. What the Premier says today contradicts what Elio Letizia, Noemi and Berlusconi himself have stated over time. The minor's father has recalled deciding to introduce his family to the Prime Minister in "December of 2001": "In mid-December, my wife and I went to Rome to do some shopping and, passing through the old town centre, I thought that it was the right time to introduce my wife and daughter to Berlusconi." (il Mattino, 25th May). On the same day, the head of government had a different recollection. "The first time I saw this girl was at a fashion show" (Corriere, 25th May), thus neither at Villa Madama nor introduced by her father. Noemi does not tell when she saw "Daddy" for the first time, but admits to having met him on several occasions in private and not in public. "I keep him company. He [Berlusconi] calls me, he tells me that he has a little free time and I join him. I stay and listen to him. And this is what he wants from me." (Corriere del Mezzogiorno, 28th April).
2) What is the reason that compelled you not to tell the truth for two months, giving four different versions of your acquaintance with Noemi?
Berlusconi does answer this question. As one infers from the answer to the first question, he is not in a position to tell the truth without contradicting himself.
3) Don't you find it a serious matter that you repaid the girls that call you "daddy" with candidatures and promises of political responsibilities?
Berlusconi: "I have proposed assignments of responsibility only to women with a high-level moral, intellectual, cultural and professional profile."
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The Premier's answer does not correspond to the truth that everybody knows, moreover revealed for the first time by the right-wing sheets and even by the family newspaper.
The first daily to report the candidature of a "female TV assistant" to stand for the European elections in fact was il Giornale. On 31st March, on page 12, in the column "Indiscreto a Palazzo" it is stated that "Barbara Matera Aims at a Seat in the European Parliament." "Showgirl, formerly the 'Woman of Letters' of 'Chiambretti c'è,' then Letteronza of 'Gialappa's,' then RAI announcer and actress in the TV fiction 'Carabinieri', Matera," writes il Giornale, "has wanted to refute the platitudes about young persons who do not apply themselves and lack commitment. 'They say that youth wastes time. That's not true: for instance, I study a lot.' And you can tell," comments the Berlusconi family newspaper.
Libero (22nd April) was the second newspaper to report the "card up his sleeve that the Cavaliere is ready to play." Front-page news and photo with "Angela Sozio, the redhead of 'Grande Fratellò and the De Vivo twins of 'Isola dei famosi,' possible European election candidates." On page 12, the revelations: "A Knightly Gesture. The Party's Candidates in pectore" is the headline. "Silvio takes a troupe of showgirls to Strasbourg" is the summary.
The names of the candidates that appear in the news report of Libero are: Angela Sozio, Elisa Alloro, Emanuela Romano, Rachele Restivo, Eleonora Gaggioli, Camilla Ferranti, Barbara Matera, Ginevra Crescenzi, Antonia Ruggiero, Lara Comi, Adriana Verdirosi, Cristina Ravot, Giovanna Del Giudice, Chiara Sgarbossa, Silvia Travaini, Assunta Petron, Letizia Cioffi and Albertina Carraro. Eleonora and Imma De Vivo and "a mysterious miss" of Lithuania, Giada Martirosianaite. The Premier's choices were greeted enthusiastically on his side of the fence. The headline of il Foglio: "Better Sozio Than Zagrebelsky" (24th April).
Many candidates/female TV assistants, once excluded, went public with energetic protests. Emanuela Romano's father went so far as to set himself afire in front of the main door of Palazzo Grazioli. Noemi herself made no mystery of the fact that, thanks to her access to Berlusconi, she would find room in politics. "[As a grown-up I want to be] a showgirl. Politics interests me, too. I'm ready to seize any opportunity... I prefer to stand for election to the Camber of Deputies, to the Parliament. Daddy Silvio will attend to it" (Corriere del Mezzogiorno, 28th April).
4) You stayed with a prostitute the night of November 4, 2008. According to investigations, dozens of "call girls" have been taken to your residences. Were you aware that they were prostitutes?
As will be recalled, it was prostitute Patrizia D'Addario who told (and documented with recordings and pictures) of having had sex with Berlusconi at Palazzo Grazioli. The Premier replies: "There was a dinner with many persons, organised by the militants of the 'Go, Silviò and 'Thank Goodness for Silviò clubs ... at the last minute Tarantini also slipped in with two female guests of his."
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In a few lines Berlusconi stumbles over three fibs, which can be documented. It is not true that Tarantini brought only two guests with him. The guests numbered three: Barbara Montereale, Lucia Rossini and Patrizia D'Addario. Tarantini himself confirms the circumstance. Questioned on 8th September, he states: "I confirm that on November 4, 2008 I went to Palazzo Grazioli together with Patrizia D'Addario, Barbara Montereale and Lucia Rossini." It is not true that during that evening there were many persons and nobody recalls the presence of the militants of the "Go, Silvio" and "Thank Goodness for Silvio" clubs. Patrizia D'Addario immediately stated: "That evening there were no other female guests. We found a buffet of sweets and the usual pianist [Apicella]" (Corriere della sera, 17th June). Today Barbara Montereale also confirms it. The only other protagonists of the evening were the Prime Minister's bodyguards. Their presence is in the records of the investigation conducted in Bari. In a recorded conversation D'Addario is heard asking Montereale: "Do you remember how he was courting you?" The other party replies: "Everything in front of the bodyguards. Disgusting. You're another one like Noemi who can do him harm." It is not true that Tarantini slipped in "at the last minute." The Bari entrepreneur planned the visit at least 24 hours ahead of time, as shown by the girls' declarations and by the phone taps. The girls of the clubs, as Montereale again stated to Repubblica, were present not at Palazzo Grazioli but at Villa Certosa on 6th January, when she returned with Tarantini to meet with Berlusconi.
5) Has it ever happened that "official government flights" without you aboard have been used to take female party guests to your residences?
Berlusconi: "The magistracy has already dropped the case in question. I have never used "official government flights" in an unlawful way. Moreover, I have five private planes that I can use at any time."
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The answer is only partially correct. It is true that on 20th October the Ministers Tribunal of Rome dropped the charges of abuse of office and peculation against Berlusconi. However, it must be remembered that the rules for those "official government flights" were changed on July 25, 2008 by the premiership and allow much discretion in the composition of the delegation that accompanies the head of government. As happens and as has happened, even musicians and dancers can come aboard. Berlusconi's reply is only partially correct because it forgets that the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio is still investigating and on 28th October requested of Palazzo Chigi the documents pertaining to the five flights between Rome and Olbia (May 24, 25, 31, June 1 and August 17, 2008), the passenger list and the reasons for their presence. Proceedings are also open with the European Commission "to verify the existence of offences committed by our institutions."
6) Can you say without fear of contradiction that the people you keep company with haven't caused prejudice to the affairs of State? Can you reassure the country that no female guest of yours today possesses arms of blackmail?
Berlusconi: "The answer holds true today just as in the past, inasmuch as I have never allowed myself to be blackmailed by anybody or ever behaved in such a way as to allow a similar event to happen. When requests have been put forward in my regards that, in my judgement and in that of my lawyers, could be construed as blackmail, I have immediately turned to the judiciary."
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The head of government's reply is terribly insincere as regards present and past. Even overlooking the very recent "Marrazzo case" (view the blackmail video - "material evidence" - he warns Marrazzo, advising him to purchase and destroy it), it was the Premier himself who declared, at La Maddalena, that the night of sex with prostitute Patrizia D'Addario has made him embarrassingly and dangerously vulnerable. "I was a victim of a person who wanted to artfully create a scandal. The lady has committed four offences and risks a judicial sentence of 18 years, but I haven't decided yet whether to bring suit" (Ansa, 10th September). As for the past, the mistrust of the judiciary and wariness of any accusation is well documented and noisy. In 1975 a device exploded against his home on Via Rovani in Milan. Berlusconi made no mention of it to the police. In 1986, another bomb burst against the palazzo on Via Rovani. Berlusconi confessed to the police his suspicion of Mafia member Vittorio Mangano, groundskeeper of Villa San Martino in Arcore. He later added: "If he had asked me for fifty or sixty million I would have given it to him...." On February 7, 1988, Berlusconi conversed on the telephone (tapped) with a friend of his (real estate agent Renato Della Valle). He said: "I have lots of troubles at every turn. One of them is pretty big, so that I have to send my children away, who are now in the process of going abroad, because they've engaged in extortion against me ... in an ugly way." Berlusconi explained that involved was "something that has happened to me other times, ten years ago, and ... they're back again." He went on to say: "You know, since they told me that if by a certain date I don't do something they'll deliver my son's head to me and display the body in Piazza del Duomo...." Even faced with this terrible blackmail threat, Berlusconi did not turn to the police or judiciary.
7) Your conduct contradicts your policies: today would you still be able to participate in Family Day or sign a law punishing the customer of a prostitute?
The Premier does not answer.
8) Do you still consider yourself eligible for the office of President of the Republic? If not, do you think you can fulfil the duties of the Prime Minister?
Berlusconi: "As many will recall, I have repeatedly mentioned as a suggestion, so that the best choice can be made by the Parliament, a candidate (Gianni Letta) whom I consider absolutely tops."
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In this case the lie is surprising. Nobody is unaware that the head of government has as his objective the office of President of the Republic. He has said as much: "If the presidential reform passes, like the one on the French or American model, I would automatically have to stand for President of the Republic" (July 19, 2002). "Why shouldn't someone with my history give it a thought?" (October 3, 2008). A few days before Bossi had said: "Berlusconi to the Quirinale, we'll vote for him" (September 28, 2008).
9) You have spoken of a "subversive plan" that threatens you. Can you guarantee not having used and not wanting to use intelligence and the police force against witnesses, magistrates, and journalists?
Berlusconi: "The violent attacks against me, always completely removed from reality and solely the fruit of preconceived hostility, are plain for all to see. But I have certainly never thought of using these resources against anyone."
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It already happened in the previous legislature (2001/2006) that military intelligence, governed by Berlusconi, set to work against real or presumed adversaries of the head of government and his party. On July 5, 2006, in a private office of SISMI head Niccolò Pollari, hundreds of reports, dossiers on politicians, magistrates, entrepreneurs, journalists and high-level security officials were seized. And, above all, "a note" 23 pages long that elaborated a plan for "disjointing" the opposition to the government "with traumatic means." The text explains how and why to "disjoint," "neutralise," "scale down" and "dissuade" dissent, real or hypothetical, including with "provisions" and "traumatic measures. The note was found among the papers of Pio Pompa, the discreet right-hand man of the head of SISMI. On November 21, 2001 Pompa had sent a fax to Palazzo Grazioli: "If you so desire, I shall be your faithful and loyal man...." The plan envisioning "disjointing" was implemented "beginning from mid-September (2001)." It would be at the expense of magistrates, journalists and, on the eve of the 2006 elections, Berlusconi's rival, Romano Prodi. SISMI would unleash a campaign to discredit him with false documents and the collaboration of journalists in the pay of the "007s."
10) In light of what has emerged in recent months, what, Mr. Prime Minister, is your state of health?
Berlusconi: "This question is answered by the facts. From that date to today my state of health, except for an annoying stiff neck now overcome and the scarlet fever that I had at the end of October, is in fact what has made it possible for me to go on and complete sixteen months of a very busy round of engagements that for the sake of brevity I can summarise as follows: 170 international meetings, 25 multilateral summits, 9 bilateral summits, 80 press conferences, 66 cabinet meetings, 91 addresses and impromptu public speeches. What would I have done if I weren't sick?"
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News of the energetic and excellent state of health of the Prime Minister naturally pleases us. However, a few things must be remembered. It was the Premier's wife, Veronica Lario, who said: "I have tried to help my husband, I have implored those who are close to him to do as much, as one would do with a person who is not well. It was all for naught" (Repubblica, 3rd May). Berlusconi's wife was referring to his keeping company with minors, to the vortex of young women (according to Veronica Lario, "figures of virgins who offer themselves to the dragon in the pursuit of success, fame and economic growth") that have brightened and brighten the nights of the 'emperor.' The Premier's wife was referring to the sexual addiction that afflicts the Prime Minister. Berlusconi does not talk about his satyriasis. The "D'Addario case" and the conversations (tapped) with entrepreneur Giampaolo Tarantini speak for him.
(6 novembre 2009)
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