Thread: Italy : Prostitution trial against Berlusconi opens

I believe this guy is also going to get out of this. Its almost ridiculous.

Come on, it's democracy at work. You know, the best show in town. It doesn't matter if you're a maffiosi, rapist, pedophile, whatever when you're elected

eh... Just legalize prostitution.

Originally Posted by Occam's Razor

eh... Just legalize prostitution.

But then you can't be all high and mighty about morals anymore. No, sir, what a true democrat does is to change the law merely for his own specific case. At least then you can still persecute the plebeians for doing as you do.

Originally Posted by WoI

But then you can't be all high and mighty about morals anymore. No, sir, what a true democrat does is to change the law merely for his own specific case. At least then you can still persecute the plebeians for doing as you do.

sad but true

Originally Posted by Tuco

I believe this guy is also going to get out of this. Its almost ridiculous.

Since the Left cannot agree on a credible challenger for Berlusconi, yes.
Berlusconi has brought relative stability to Italy ( he is the longest serving PM in post-war history after decades when national elections were sometimes several times a year), and he stands for a populist "reforms, but not too many and only as long as nobody is hurt" approach that earns him votes especially from the lower middle class. People who have some wealth but not too much, and are afraid of everything that might cause them to loose it ( Immigrants, Islam,Communists .....whatever). People who would like to party like him in their seventies and get their news from the tabloid press and talk shows. As long as Berlusconi does not loose these votes he is set to stay.

Originally Posted by WoI

But then you can't be all high and mighty about morals anymore. No, sir, what a true democrat does is to change the law merely for his own specific case. At least then you can still persecute the plebeians for doing as you do.

Berlusconis recipe for popularity is that he does NOT claim morality for himself. He sucessfully portrays himself as an "anti-politicians politician" ( in spite of 18 years in politics) and openly admits his "weaknesses" ( like for young women). Berlusconi may be an horny old fart, but he is not an hypocrite in that regard. He would already have been kicked out by Italians, as a scandal-resistant party animal he gets some weird sort of respect though.

Originally Posted by Occam's Razor

eh... Just legalize prostitution.

i'm with you there, but remember: he's been paying for sex with teenage girls, not professional working women.

Originally Posted by Voland

Berlusconis recipe for popularity is that he does NOT claim morality for himself. He sucessfully portrays himself as an "anti-politicians politician" ( in spite of 18 years in politics) and openly admits his "weaknesses" ( like for young women). Berlusconi may be an horny old fart, but he is not an hypocrite in that regard. He would already have been kicked out by Italians, as a scandal-resistant party animal he gets some weird sort of respect though.

Ordinary people who do what he does (theft, corruption, bribery, extortion, blackmail, abuse of power, pimping, etc.) are in jail. He's not. That's pretty hypocritical. That the electorate are idiots doesn't change that.

Originally Posted by WoI

Ordinary people who do what he does (theft, corruption, bribery, extortion, blackmail, abuse of power, pimping, etc.) are in jail. He's not. That's pretty hypocritical. That the electorate are idiots doesn't change that.

I thought you were talking about the "moral" aspect of the trial in question.
Other charges ( like bribery) are another question ( not trying to play that down, but focusing on another aspect)......

Originally Posted by WoI

Ordinary people who do what he does (theft, corruption, bribery, extortion, blackmail, abuse of power, pimping, etc.) are in jail. He's not. That's pretty hypocritical. That the electorate are idiots doesn't change that.

I don´t think the italian electorate is more idiotic than in Belgium, in Germany or elsewhere and no Italian that I ever met, even Berlusconi voters is under any illusions about him
Most of the charges against Berlusconi ( except prostitution) are from his days as a businessman. As a politician he has certainly "bought" support on occasion if necessary for him but noone has ever been able to personally tie him to corruption ( money he has enough, what he is interested in is power)
And that ironically is one of the reasons for people to vote for him. When Berlusconi entered politics the old conservative party, the Democrazia Christiana, had just exploded under an incredible chain of corruption scandals, and Berlusconi has more or less saved the right wing. By portraying himself as an "anti-politician", as a sucessful businessman who had already shown his management skills, and as Italys richest man, who had money enough to be ( allegedly) resistant to corruption. Additionally Berlusconi speaks in a language that people can understand and pretends to be an ordinary guy who has just been more successful than the others. He is an EXTREMELY skilled populist.
But Berlusconis main strength is the weakness of the others. As long as the Left wing of italian politics is more busy fighting among each other instead of taking on Berlusconi many remember the eighties, when one election was hunting the other and Italy was continously rocked by political and economical instability and prefer a Berlusconi who at least sits firm in the saddle and governs. The point isn´t that many wouldn´t like to see him out, the point is that there is no one to replace him, at least right now. Berlusconi is the "devil you know".
Realistically a successor can only come from Berlusconis "Popolo della liberta" party ( where the only possible crown prince, ex-foreign minister Fini has firstly been kicked out by Berlusconi and then taken himself out of the race due to a corruption scandal) or the social democratic PD party ( but that would require a coalition of multiple parties, for example with Greens, Communists and a couple of regional parties and Italians already have made bad experiences with these kinds of governements)
Ergo Berlusconi will stay until a crown prince appears on stage who either "murders" or topples the king or the case will go the biological way. Berlusconi is 74 (!)

Originally Posted by Occam's Razor

eh... Just legalize prostitution.

It actually is legal in Spain

Spain debates prostitution ad ban ? turning sex workers against new law — RT

Derrrr. Italy, too.

Google

Originally Posted by Bearman

It actually is legal in Spain

Spain debates prostitution ad ban ? turning sex workers against new law — RT

Derrrr. Italy, too.

Google

If it's actually legal, then I don't understand the fuss....