Newsgroup: it.politica
Titolo: FINANCIAL TIMES: Berlusconi the statesman, not the playboy

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f523422-6d7c-11de-8b19-00144feabdc0.html
Berlusconi the statesman, not the playboy
By Guy Dinmore and George Parker in L'Aquila
Published: July 10 2009 19:27 | Last updated: July 10 2009 19:27
Silvio Berlusconi's gamble to host the G8 summit appears to have paid 
off. From scandal-plagued playboy to international statesman: after 
three days of presiding over the international gathering Mr Berlusconi 
has silenced his critics and soothed his allies, at least for the moment.
For the 72-year-old billionaire prime minister, the three-day summit of 
40 heads of government and international organisations concluding on 
Friday was as much a success for what did not happen.
Aides were clearly relieved that none of their worst fears materialised 
-- no aftershocks from the April 6 earthquake disturbed proceedings; no 
prosecutors announced investigations into well-publicised allegations 
that prostitutes were procured last year for his lavish parties; and no 
reporter, Italian or otherwise, had the temerity to ask Mr Berlusconi 
about his personal life.
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor well accustomed to Mr Berlusconi's 
pranks -- he once played peek-a-boo from behind a pillar -- greeted him 
with a kiss. Gordon Brown gave a big hug and Barack Obama was gracious 
in his praise for the organisation.
By playing up the spartan nature of the accommodation in the finance 
ministry police college, expectations were lowered and no one 
complained. The people of L'Aquila -- more than 60,000 have lost their 
homes and 22,000 are in tents -- were flattered to be the centre of world 
attention.
European diplomats did moan that Mr Berlusconi had been "incredibly 
late" for some meetings, leaving the punctilious German chancellor 
"steaming" over poor time-keeping.
The summit was "reasonably well-organised", one diplomat said. "The 
accommodation and the food were modest and that was exactly the right 
thing."
After weeks of salacious reports (all denied by Mr Berlusconi) about his 
friendship with an 18-year-old would-be model and accounts by call girls 
of party and bedroom antics, the media mogul's outlets were also exultant.
"The summit results are extremely positive. I have received compliments 
from all participants and some have told me it has been the best G8 they 
joined," the prime minister said on Friday.
Yet senior diplomats remain concerned, on security grounds, about 
trusting a head of government who allegedly has entertained call girls, 
some reported to be east European. Mr Berlusconi said he believed one 
woman, whom he said he did not know was an escort, had been paid to set 
him up.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

 Berlusconi the statesman, not the playboy
sembra un commento ragionevole, professionele.
Nï¿œ demonizzante nï¿œ santificante.
Direi che il giornalista ha sintetizzato brevemente, per un pubblico 
straniero e quindi meno interessato degli Italiani, i lati positivi e i 
lati negativi del personaggio.
-- 
Dialogare con i sinistri non ï¿œ difficile; ï¿œ inutile.
 
http://tinyurl.com/kn8x6o
 
http://tinyurl.com/m58ay3

 Friday was as much a success for what did not happen.
e a te questi sembrano commenti elogiativi?
-- 
"La rivista - allo stato delle cose - sarebbe forse piu' in linea se
alla nomenclatura "Famiglia Cristiana" aggiungesse: allineata ï¿œo
sintonia ï¿œcon Unita', Repubblica, Espresso, Riformista"
ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ ï¿œ [Luigino Ferrari]