AND NOW for something completely different – Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation. Rome-based magistrates this week confirmed that Mr Berlusconi is being investigated over an alleged abuse of state aircraft.
Following a complaint filed by the consumer rights group Codacons, investigators will examine more than 100 photographs of the prime minister’s official aircraft, taken in 2008 and 2009 at Olbia airport in Sardinia.
He is accused of having used the state aircraft to fly guests, including his favourite Neapolitan “chansonnier”, Mariano Apicella, to Sardinia to attend parties in his luxury villa on the Costa Smeralda.
Speaking yesterday on Sky Italia TV, however, he denied any wrongdoing, saying: “There is no abuse of state planes whatsoever, only the pettiness of certain people . The point is that, given that there have been 39 threats on my life, I am practically obliged to use the state planes, even if I have my own fleet.
“I take my staff and my security detail with me on the flights, and after that I have total freedom to invite whomsoever I like. And I want to point out that, whoever travels with me, it costs the taxpayer not a penny more.”
According to himself, he has been investigated more than 100 times in the last 15 years. Although he has been charged with corruption, bribery, fraudulent accountancy, money laundering and much else besides, he has always been acquitted, albeit on occasion because of a statute of limitations ruling. Yesterday, his senior defence lawyer, Nicolo Ghedini, told reporters the investigation into state aircraft misuse was destined “to be dropped”.
However, weekly news magazine L'Espressoreported yesterday that under Mr Berlusconi, use of the planes had greatly increased. Comparing the periods January to April in 2008 and 2009, L'Espressoclaimed that state aircraft flying hours went from 636 under centre-left premier Romano Prodi last year to 1,819 hours under Mr Berlusconi this year.