Berlusconi: So Sue Me, I Like Gorgeous Babes

Turns out El Duche was a douche

(NEWSER) - Benito Mussolini and Silvio Berlusconi: Both charismatic leaders of Italy, both wildly popular, both…voracious sexual omnivores. The Independent takes a look at two recent publications—a diary by Mussolini’s mistress, and a memoir by a prostitute who supposedly spent two nights with Berlusconi. A sampling of the salacious details:

• The morning after: Berlusconi offered up coffee or tea and gave a gem-encrusted tortoise as a parting gift; Mussolini’s flings ended without “coffee, liqueur, or even a piece of cake,” writes Clara Petacci in her diary.

Allegations reignite Italian's leader sleaze scandal

(NEWSER) - An Italian businessman claims to have supplied 30 women for parties held by Silvio Berlusconi, some of whom slept with the Italian leader, the Guardian reports. Gianpaolo Tarantini, who is under investigation for corruption, says he was trying to gain influence with the prime minister. He told investigators that he provided female guests for 18 of Berlusconi's parties and paid some of them to stay the night. More»

(NEWSER) - Silvio Berlusconi's antics with models and call girls have threatened to derail his government, but the woman at the center of the sex-and-corruption scandal says she's seen it all before. "This is how Italy always works," Patrizia D’Addario tells the Financial Times. The hooker says she came forward to protect herself and recounts how her house was robbed by burglars who stole her underwear and photos from the PM. More»

Says he gave escorts acting, political roles

(NEWSER) - Patrizia D’Addario, the prostitute who brought the world what she says are audiotapes of her having sex with Silvio Belusconi, says the Italian PM offered her a seat in the European Parliament, the Times of London reports. He offered her the position in lieu of paying for sex, she says, after backing out of a promised building permit favor. Critics lambasted Berlusconi this year for backing several attractive female candidates devoid of political experience. More»

Italian PM shrugs off call-girl scandal as 'low-level stuff'

(NEWSER) - Silvio Berlusconi appeared unconcerned about the recent disclosure of tapes of an alleged intimate conversation between him and a prostitute, the Telegraph reports. “There are a lot of pretty girls about. I am no saint but you know that,” the Italian PM said today in his first public comments on the matter. The “low-level” allegations “don’t touch me,” he told members of his party. More»