Silvio Berlusconi, the media tycoon and politician who served as Italy’s Prime Minister in four governments, is known to cause a stir in Italian and EU politics.
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The current leader of the ‘Forza Italia’right-wing political party was exposed saying that he has exchanged gifts and sweet letters with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Bogged down government negotiations
Following the elections in Italy last month where Giorgia Meloni emerged as Prime Minister-elect, ongoing negotiations are taking place in Rome to form the new government, Bloomberg reports.
In a close door meeting of his party, the ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi revealed that he had exchanged letters and gifts with Vladimir Putin, according to an audio wire published by Italian mediaLaPresse,
'Putin sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter for my birthday, and I replied with bottles of Lambrusco and an equally sweet letter.’
Berlusconi also said that he is worried about the military aid that Italy has been providing to Ukraine.
‘Russian ministers have said that we are already at war with them because we supply arms and funding to Ukraine. I am very, very, very worried’.
When questioned by journalists about these statements, Berlusconi denied a resumption of relations with Putin, but instead referred to a historical episode between them, however, the audio file had already caused him damage, Euractiv reports.
The EU right-wing actors remain close to Vladimir Putin
Sources reveal that, according to Berlusconi, Vladimir Putin referred to him as one of five ‘true’ friends.
These statements are becoming a headache for the new coalition government led by 'Brothers of Italy' leader Giorgia Meloni, and likewise for the center-right European People’s Party (EPP).
The group had called for the support of Meloni’s ticket before the elections took place in Italy and reaffirmed their pro-European orientation, which now is being contradicted by Berlusconi’s stance.
Reportedly, Berlusconi’s party is envisaged to take up the Justice Ministry and the Foreign Ministry in the new government, Euractiv reports.
Nevertheless, according to Bloomberg, coalition leader and prime minister-elect Giorgia Melonivowed not to change stance on Ukraine.
Sources used:
-Bloomberg: ‘Italy’s Berlusconi Says Putin Sent Him Vodka, a Sweet Letter’
-LaPresse: ‘Berlusconi: “Ho riallacciato i rapporti con Putin’
-Euractiv: ‘EU right exposed after Berlusconi’s ‘sweet’ letters with Putin’
-Fortune: 'Italy’s Berlusconi is just fine with Russia: "Putin sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter for my birthday"'
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