Former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, who died on Monday, collected a series of controversies as a political, business and football leader, ahead of the powerful AC Milan. But as nothing was enough for the intense and controversial leader, he also became known for the countless scandals of his personal life. During the period in which he was in charge of the Italian government, his festivities became world famous, which gained the picturesque name of “bunga-bunga”.
In the beginning, the news was more focused on pure gossip, about the people involved and risqué details of the events. Over time, however, the repercussions of the facts reached other paths, with accusations of use of public money and even exploitation of minors.
Magistrates say he paid thousands of euros for sex with Moroccan-born nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, known as “Ruby” when she was underage, during one of his “bunga-bunga”.
He denied this, but admitted to having freed her from a police station, saying she was the niece of then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. A court finally acquitted him of having sex with a young woman, saying he shouldn’t have known she was under 18.
Brazilian involved
Investigations at the time pointed to another young woman, who was also believed to be a minor, when she visited Berlusconi’s private residence.
According to Milan prosecutors, it was the Brazilian Iris Berardi, and she would have visited the politician on at least two occasions: at Berlusconi’s home in Sardinia on November 21, 2009 and in Milan on December 13, 2009.
Prosecutors say the activity took place from February to May. Both she and Berlusconi have denied having sex.
At the time, the prime minister characterized the accusations against him as political defamation. A CNN Berlusconi’s lawyers called the investigation “absurd and groundless” and a “serious interference” in his private life.
Berlusconi was also accused of bribing call girls, who participated in “bunga-bunga”, to manipulate their testimonies to Justice. However, no solid evidence was found against him and he was eventually acquitted.
While Berlusconi has downplayed his reputation as a philanderer, his second wife, Veronica Lario, has not. She filed for divorce saying she couldn’t live with a man who “dated minors”.
The many scandals took their toll, and in 2011 he resigned as prime minister as Italy approached a Greek-style debt crisis.
He never remarried, but in 2022 he had a “symbolic” wedding with his partner Marta Fascina, 53 years his junior, who wore a white wedding dress to the unofficial ceremony.
(Published by Fábio Mendes, with information from CNN and Reuters)
Source: CNN Brasil
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