Europe Features

BACKGROUND: Berlusconi's slips of the tongue

Apr 14, 2008, 19:40 GMT

Rome - Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is not one to mellow with age. Winning his third election campaign - of five attempts - at age 71, the former cruise ship crooner has brought showbiz to a once drab establishment reserved exclusively to grey politicos. His high regard for himself has led him to compare himself, at different times, to Jesus Christ, Napoleon and a saint. But while his frequent jokes and digs bring smiles to his supporters, his gaffe-prone speeches have caused global consternation. What follows is a brief list of some of his most memorable slips of the tongue. 2002 - At a NATO summit near Rome: 'The founders of Rome are Romulus and Remulus' (their names were Romulus and Remus). 2002 - At a summit of European Union foreign ministers in Spain, he held up two fingers behind a colleague's head, an Italian gesture signifying 'cuckold', during a group photo opportunity. 2003 - To Martin Schulz of Germany, head of the European Parliament's Socialists: 'I know that in Italy there is a man producing a film on Nazi concentration camps. I shall propose you for the role of Kapo (guard) - you would be perfect.' 2003 - 'Mussolini never killed anyone. Mussolini used to send people on vacation in internal exile.' 2006 - In Mao's China 'they did not eat children, but had them boiled to fertilise the fields.' 2008 - To a female student worried about her employment prospects: 'All you need to do is marry my son or a millionaire.' 2008 - On women: 'Those on the (political) right are sexier.'

Europe Features

BACKGROUND: Berlusconi's slips of the tongue

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