Introduction
Born in 1936, Silvio Berlusconi has become one of the most controversial leaders in Italy’s government, in recent times. Initially, Berlusconi was a businessman with large business holdings and substantial influence in international media. To many, he was regarded as a political amateur who achieved his political office through his influence on the media.
He had entered the political scene without any political experience in the year 1993 and used his huge network of media companies on a promise to clean up the disgracefully Italian government of corruption. He had portrayed himself as an honest person who had the interest of young Italians at heart (Montanelli 3). He had also promised to lower taxes and promote market economics and personal choice.
Although he managed to become the prime minister of Italy in 1993, he would soon get himself implicated in numerous accusations of involvement in corruption. The corruption allegations of extortion, bribery as well as other abuses of power forced him to resign in the same year (Tuccari 32).
Many people believe that his entry into politics was instigated by the need to protect his businesses from possible corruption allegation following the corruption charges that had rocked Bettino Craxi’s government as the investigations had expanded to include other areas outside the political range (Travaglio, Gomez, and Barbacetto 2).
This suspicion was confirmed when his brother, Paolo, admitted to corruption charges on February 11, 1994 (Galli 5). Later on the same year, his government created new law which would enable them evade jail time for some corruption charges.
This was done secretly and carefully timed to be passed at the time when the Italian national soccer team had defeated the Bulgarian national soccer team in the 1994 Football World Cup’s semifinals (Arshad 11).
The country was in crazy mood as they continued celebrating the win and so his government exploited the opportunity to pass the law and help many national leaders including the former minister of health, Francesco De Lorenzo escape jail time. However, Roberto Baggio’s missed penalty shot which allowed Brazil win the cup changed the country’s focus to the country’s corrupt politicians.
The public was enraged by the images of politicians and other people who had been charged of corruption walking free on the streets. Earlier on, Berlusconi’s largest family property, the Fininvest media industry had been alleged of corruption scandals. The corruption charges forced Berlusconi’s government out of office as the parliament was preparing to hold a vote of confidence against his government.
He was later on acquitted of most of these corruption charges and also benefitted from reductions of terms of his other trials to allow him to campaign for the 2001 elections.
He used his influence on the media to campaign against the judges on how they had carried out Mani Pulite (Travaglio, Gomez, and Barbacetto 2). The politicians criticisms against the judges was now more believed than the judges. He has continuously used his media power and influence in the subsequent elections.
Berlusconi’s Influence in Politics
His political and personal health is bogged down by the sex scandals, financial concerns, family problems as criminal investigations on criminal charges and abuse of office.
He is perceived as a successful businessman as well as a media tycoon who has continuously used his commercial networks to achieve his political ambitions. He is credited with having adopted media and pools marketing strategies as practiced in the U.S into the politics of Italy (D’Agresti 1).
He manipulated opinions making it difficult for the Italians to detach facts from political gimmicks (Paolo 4). He easily convinced the Italians that he was the face change they needed without them realizing his actions behind the scene (Paolo 4).
He concealed his image so much that the Italians did not realize that he had criminal connections which were still under investigation which had been prompted by the arrest of Mario Chiesa (Vannucci 1). Whereas the old political systems had become synonymous with corruption, he presented himself as a new political character thus creating curiosity and interest among the Italians.
He significantly changed the concept of political communication through the media. During his tenure in power, the darker side of Berlusconi was exposed by the media to the public. For example, the media exposed how he had used the media’s influence and his political power in a bid to portray himself to the Italians as a charismatic leader.
This was especially the case prior to the 1994 elections (D’Agresti 4). He always presents himself smiling and with a reassuring tone to depict himself as a person who does not always talk much politics.
Berlusconi is perceived to be different from the traditional politicians. In 1994, he was able to bring together different political souls into one political party. These included the post-fascist Fini, ex Democrazia Christiana (DC) and the ex Partito Socialista (PSI) leaders (D’Agresti 4). He also included non-experienced politicians like him into his Forza Italia Party.
The media had considered his act of conglomerating the new middle right as a single political party as a political risk prompted by his political naivety (D’Agresti 4). Berlusconi was did not personally correspond to the old political leaders and did not even adopt their political language. He presents politics which is more of business board decisions than politics.
He may be hated by some people, but still commands a wide respect and following. He noted the failures of the past Craxi’s government and the earlier government and decided to enter politics with a new political party as the Italians were tired anything related to the old political system.
During his tenure in office as the prime minister in 1994, he used his influence to create law which helped him and his business and political associates to avoid jail time for most corruption charges (Grinsborg 19).
For example, as the foreign and prime minister of Italy in 2003, he is accused of having assert his political influence in a bid to obtain the courts’ amnesty following the passing of the controversial bill by parliament that was aimed at ensuring that a number of official in the government remained quite immune to any form of prosecution (Travaglio 64).
Although some of his decisions are sometimes unpopular to the general public and other interest groups in one way or another, he always find a way of convincing the country’s decision making organs.
Berlusconi being a pro-US is struggling to maintain his relationship with the US. His decision to back George W. Bush and his government in invading Iraq was highly contested by some 75 % individuals within Italy. In his position as the EU president, he utilized his position in an effort to convince the other members of the EU to back the decision by the United States to invade Iraq.
He was also keen to win the US support and become their ally. George Bush had counted on his support for the war in Iraq. Berlusconi committed about 2,700 Italian troops in the war in Iraq. On the other hand, Berlusconi has had to ensure that the relationship that he enjoys with both the Russian and the United States government remained balanced. The media also perceives Berlusconi as Putin’s mouthpiece in Europe.
His relationship with Putin causes discomfort for the US State of Department. He is aware of the tension that this relationship causes especially to the US.
D’Agresti (23) argues that Berlusconi manufactures his political consent with the help of his private media networks. In 1994, he developed a propaganda model that he effectively used to campaign and win the elections. His TV channels depicted him differently from the way other TV channels did (D’Agresti 24).
Whenever corruption and other scandals rock him and his government, the views presented by his television channels are different from the perspective presented by other media channels.
Despite his corruption charges and questionable characters he is still regarded as a popular leader and a very good and controversial politician, who does what people, want (Ishtiaq 121). He has remained very simple and close to the public.
Although he says that he lowered taxes, the opposition claims that that he has instead increased taxes. He bows to the Catholic Church when he has had two marriages and also has a host of girls in his company. He also boasts of many admirers who have helped maintain his political position.
Berlusconi’s Authoritative Rule and Abuse Office
Berlusconi is perceived to be of a corrupt personality as some criminal charges which have been determined in his favor are questionable. For example, in 2001, the Judiciary in Milan reprieving him of the bribery charges on a judge in 1994 tainted the judgment that was made in Rome by claiming that at that time, the judiciary in Rome was so corrupt to justify his bribery (Guardian News and Media para. 26).
According to Grillo (para. 21) Berlusconi is under investigation with the prosecution in Rome alleging tax evasion. According to nine prosecutors, Berlusconi who is supposed to be making other Italians pay tax is charged with defrauding the Department of Inland Revenue.
A number of his companies have also been involved in tax evasion allegations. Besides, the television companies have been found to be buying and selling broadcasting rights at inflated rates.
The media also portrays Berlusconi as an authoritarian leader who attempts to manipulate institutions to favor his political and business ambitions. He has much control over two government television station other than TG3 and plays some role of editing some information that they present to the public.
His endurance during period of revelations of his sex life is a clear indication of how he has managed to exert his authority on the Italian media. He successfully manipulated the media to help him defend himself against the sex scandals that have been surrounding him.
He passed laws tailored to serve his personal interest such as the one that decriminalizes false accounting that enabled him escape three major charges that had been labeled against him (Guardian News and Media para. 22).
He is perceived as a corrupt personality whose corruption and criminal cases are not about to end soon. He has had extensive and persistent corruption and many other criminal charges long before he entered into the political limelight in 1993. He has been convicted of tax fraud, bribing of the tax police and false accounting among many other criminal charges (Govan para. 6).
He is battling to manipulate the country’s judicial system. He started criticizing the judges as early as 2001 claiming that they had not properly handled his corruption allegations against him. He has created tension between the judicial branches and the political branches of the state and has also greatly contributed to the failed institutional mechanisms to eradicate and control corruption (Vannucci 234).
The media portrays him as old-fashioned and who entered politics to achieve political power and influence that would enable him to protect his businesses and himself. The media reveals that he was a close associate of Craxi who had fled to Tunisia to escape corruption charges; and that he had benefitted from the financial ties with Craxi. He depicted as one who did not change with the transformations of Italy.
The media portrays Berlusconi as one who is not ready to resign despite the criminal allegations labeled against him. According to Aloisi (23) Berlusconi may not resign even if he was convicted of one of the criminal charges labeled against him. Instead he is planning to get himself appointed as appointed as the president after he completes his premiership term.
The prime minister faces two criminal charges following Italy’s top court’s decision to lift Berlusconi’s immunity on prosecution to allow the legal proceedings to resume (Stewart para. 3). The immunity law had been viewed by many as tailor-made to protect him and his businesses while still in office. He is to be charged of tax fraud as well as false accounting in his media companies’ management.
It involves the manner in which the TV rights acquired as it is alleged that Berlusconi had acquired them from his own offshore companies at inflated prices (The Guardian para. 3). Besides, it is also understood that he paid bribe to a British lawyer, David Mills so that he could withhold incriminating details on his business deals.
Mills is alleged to have taken the bribe in exchange for presenting false testimony before the courts (Sartori 42). The conviction of Mills is a clear indication that his conviction may be inevitable. He is currently struggling to combat the court charges and to maintain his reputation among the public.
He is portrayed as one who is ready to do anything that would keep him in power as he strongly criticizes the judges for convicting Mills and for allowing the wiretaps to be used against him in courts (Sartori 43). He is perceived as the one who influenced the passing of the tough anti-wiretap law which is meant to protect him from being overheard.
Berlusconi’s Sex Scandals
Berlusconi is perceived by the media as scandalous especially in regards to sex, lies as well as the use of public money. The conduct of his personal morality is questionable. His conduct has cheapened the democratic process in Italy thus resulting into loss of his political authority.
The mystery surrounding his attendance of Noemi Letizia’s birthday party promoted his wife to announce earlier this year that she would be seeking for a divorce (Newell 6). It also emerged that high-class prostitutes are always hired to attend parties at his mansion in Rome.
His wife accused him of fielding young women candidates who kept him company and whom he had assisted in their entertainment carriers, in the European elections. The wife also alleged abuse of office against Berlusconi for having used official government aircrafts to take his guests who just consisted of women to different places including his villa in Sardinia to entertain him.
The media also portrayed him as a liar as he failed to correctly answer questions surrounding his Noemi Letizia’s scandal. He failed to give consistent answer as to why he had attended the birthday party and even used Craxi’s name to defend himself.
The media describes him as one who is very economical with the truth. This was met by a great disapproval from the general public and for the first time the percentage of those who have faith in him fell to less than 50%. He is struggling to maintain his reputation by defending himself against the lying allegations and the revelations that continuously pop up in the media (Newell 6).
He uses power to acquire sex from young women and thereafter nominate them to the European parliament. He acquires sex from young women aspiring to seek television careers. He is portrayed as one who has little respect for women as he uses them as sex tools.
He hires women to his villa to come and entertain him and in addition, he even sleeps with government officials who are women including ministers in his government thus undermining the institutional process and law. According to his wife Veronica, Berlusconi even went with those she considers as minors.
He is depicted as a reckless and an irresponsible man who does respect his marriage and in particular, infidelity in marriage as he seems to be giving little attention to his wife. He is always partying and enjoying the company of young girls.
He is portrayed as a man who has questionable national character and has only managed to survive in politics through the use of his media companies and the state television companies which he controls. He uses the media to defend himself against the corruption allegations and to market himself.
According to the media, Berlusconi’s sex scandals represent a typical Italian man who believes that it is impossible to live legally and therefore his questionable leadership characters of having mistresses and cheating on taxes are perfect characteristics of the Italian people. The media perceives him as a womanizing politician who does not even feel sorry for his sex scandals.
He is portrayed as a sex maniac who is really obsessed with thoughts and dreams about sex in most of his life. In an EU summit in Brussels organized to discuss climate change, he shocked many EU leaders as he sent them doodles showing knickers meant for women. He likes women and consistently talks about them and makes sexual jokes. His characteristics are shared by most Italian men.
Berlusconi’s Mafia Activities
According to Evans, Harding and Hooper (1) the relationship between Berlusconi and Putin raises eyebrows. Putin is thought to be involved and as benefitting from activities of organized crimes and therefore Berlusconi is also thought to be profiting personally from their secret deals. Berlusconi has been keen to defend Russia when being criticized and the two families have become very close as to visit each other.
Berlusconi is perceived to be admiring Putin’s authoritative rule and is also perceived to be benefitting personally from the energy deals between Russia and Italy (RESPONDACON III 11).
Russia is considered to be a corrupt country headed by the autocratic leadership of Putin. Russia is perceived to be a country where organized crime such as arms trafficking, extortion and kickbacks, money laundering protection of criminal gangs as well as personal enrichment takes place (Schmitz (para. 6). It is a country where it is difficult to differentiate between government activities and criminal gangs’ activities (Hardling et al 1).
Russia is regarded as a “virtual mafia state”. Most of the proceeds that Putin earns from these illegal activities are believed to be kept in other countries with Italy as the favorite destination (Levi 17). Berlusconi is believed to partner and henchman in these activities.
The media portrays Berlusconi as one involved in relationships with organized criminal gang leaders to carry out his business and political activities. This may be the driving force behind his relationship with Putin. According to Grillo (para. 11). Ciancimino still remains Berlusconi’s business associate and they are alleged to have collusion with mafia in money laundering activities and other criminal activities.
According to Grillo (para. 12) the original documents of the Del Monte Company may prove Berlusconi’s collusion with the mafia. According to Schmitz (para. 14) Berlusconi’s immune to political pressure gives him the opportunity to make decision related to Russia by himself.
Conclusion
The media portrays and perceives Berlusconi as one with a questionable personality whose main aim of keeping his political position in the country and in the international community is to protect his business and himself.
He is portrayed as a corrupt leader who evades tax, misuses public resources, nominates young women who satisfy his sexual desires to the European parliament, and is involved in secret criminal deals with criminal gangs and leaders with criminal minds such as Putin among many other forms of abuse of office.
The media depicts him as an individual whose leadership is driven by the need to satisfy his ego and not the need to satisfy the national interest of the country.
Works Cited
D’Agresti, Attilio. Silvio Berlusconi and the Americanization of the Italian Politics: A Political Analysis through the Commentariesof IL Corriere Della Sera. Ohio: Youngstown State University. 2008.
Galli Della Loggia Ernesto. Tra due poli infuriate. Di Milano.Il Corriere della Sera, 1994. Web.
Govan, Fiona. Intermex Financial. 2010. Web.
Grillo, Beppe. Berlusconi offshore 2010. Casaleggio Association. 2010. Web.
Grinsborg, Paolo. Berlusconi. Torina: Einaudi, 2003. Print.
Guardian News and Media. First among billionaires. Guardian News and Media Limited. Web.
Hardling, Luke. WikiLeaks cables condemn Russia as ‘mafia state. Guardian News and Media Limited. 2010. Web.
Ishtiaq, Ahmad. Differences in US-EU Approaches on the Middle East: Greater Middle East Initiative and Iraq as Case Studies. New Delhi: NBO Publisher’s.
Levi, Michael. Suite justice or sweet charity? Some explorations of shaming and incapacitating business fraudsters. Cardiff: Sage Publications, 2010. Print.
Montanelli Indro, Se questa e’ la destra. Milano: Il Corriere della Sera, 1994. Web.
Newell, James. Sex, lies and public money: Recent Scandals in Britain and Italy. Salford: University of Salford Press, 2008. Print.
Mieli, Paolo. Subito il governo. Il Corriere della Sera. 1994. Print.
RESPONDACON III. Third Inter American Conference on the Problems of Fraud and Corruption in Government. 2009. Web.
Rob, Evans, Harding, Luke and Hooper, John. WikiLeaks cables: Berlusconi ‘profited from secret deals’ with Putin. Guardian News and Media Limited. Web.
Sartori, Giovanni. Ingegeneria Constituzionale comparata. Bologna: il Mulino. 2004 Print.
Schmitz, Gregor. Washington Concerned about Berlusconi-Putin Axis. Washington D.C.: Spiegel Online International. 2010. Web.
Sabeenah, Arshad. The position of football in Post-colonial Europe. New Jersey: The State University of University of New Jersey Press.
Silvia, Aloisi. Berlusconi won’t resign even if convicted. Reuters. 2009. Web.
Stewart, Gaither. Italy: The End Of An Epoch. 2009. Web.
The Guardian. Silvio Berlusconi: Politics alla puttanesca. The Guardian. 2009. Web.
Travaglio, Marco. La Scomporasa dei fatti. Milano: Donzelli, 2007. Print.
Travaglio, Marco, Gomez, Peter, and Barbacetto, Gianni. Mani pulite, La Vera Storia, Roma:Donzelli, 2003. Print.
Tuccari, Francesco. II Governo Berlusconi: Le parole, i fatti, I rischi. Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2002. Print.
Vannucci, Alberto. The Controversial Legacy of Mani Pulite: A Critical Analysis of Italian Corruption and Anti-Corruption Policies. Bulletin of Italian Politics, 1.2(2009).