David Puente
AC360° Producer
A former nude model will be among some of the most powerful women in the world at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy this week.
L’Aquila is the town devastated by the earthquake in April and it is also where first ladies like Michelle Obama are joining their husbands for the annual G8 summit. But an ex-glamour and lingerie model is accompanying the Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, 72, to the summit.
Mara Carfagna, 33, was his choice for minister of equal opportunities, last year. Since then she’s been named one of the world's hottest politicians by the men’s magazine Maxim. Carfagna, not Berlusconi’s wife - who has filed for divorce - will escort Michelle Obama, Sarah Brown and the other first spouses on a tour of Rome.
Rumors about Prime Minister Berlusconi’s sex life have been the talk of the Italian media for the last several months. It’s been reported that he told Carfagna that, "If I was not already married, I would run off with you immediately."
The Italian beauties in his inner circle – also dubbed his ‘harem’ by media critics – include education minister Maria Stella Gelmini, 35, youth minister Giorgia Meloni, 32, and environment minister Stefania Prestigiacomo, 42.
The media focus has also been on other women who aren’t part of the prime minister’s cabinet but are personal friends. Like the teenage girl whose photo allegedly captivated Berlusconi enough for him to invite her to his private New Year's Eve bash. Pictures of other beauties sitting on his lap and holding his hands at various parties have also been circulating.
And there was Noemi Letizia, a blond lingerie model. It’s reported that Berlusconi attended her 18th birthday party in April and gave her a necklace worth thousands of dollars. When Veronica Lario, Berlusconi's wife, announced her intention to file for divorce, she alleged that her husband "frequented minors."
But the list of salacious stories doesn’t end there. There was also the paid escort who claims she was one of many sent to Berlusconi's Rome residence. Then last month, another woman named Patrizia D'Addario alleged that she had been to Berlusconi's luxurious palazzo in Rome for parties made up of almost entirely of beautiful women who were paid to be there by Giampaolo Tarantini, a businessman friend of the Italian leader.
On one of those nights in November, D'Addario says she and Berlusconi slept together. Tarantini is now under investigation on suspicion of, among other charges, abetting prostitution. Berlusconi himself has not been accused of any crime and has told the media that he has never paid for sex.
The Italian prime minister has also said that there is nothing in his private life for which he needs to apologize. Though it is true his popularity remains high, not all Italians agree. His critics say that the scandals that have been a source of amusement to some Italians, disgusting to many others and are showcasing Italy’s shame before the world. They add that the sexual allegations are finally going to take a political toll on the prime minister.
Should his personal life remain private or does the Italian prime minister need to change his ways?
Follow David on Twitter @puenteac360.
| Latanya |
July 9th, 2009 10:18 am ET Mr Anderson i just want to drop a few lines about mj it looks to me like everyone is focusing on where the family is going to bury mj i feel that information maybe the family want to keep personal, why is it so important that everyone know about he's money and personal life the point of the matter he worked for it! and personally those kids should stay where they are b/c they don't even no debbie rowe it's about money! everyone just has there hand out! to collect on a black man's accomplishment! i never saw anything like this they don't get into any other entertainers business like they are doing mj ppl are forgetting michael jackson said it dosen't matter if you are black or white! nor did they ask for donation from other famous ppl. It is just SHAMEFUL! |
|
| annoyed |
July 9th, 2009 10:52 am ET I expected better from CNN. This is one of the most sexist reports I have read in a long time. The article isn't even about the women, really. Most of it is about Berlusoni's private life. Also, it's sad that there aren't more women LEADERS at the summit. Articles like this are not helping that cause. |
|
| patty c. |
July 9th, 2009 10:55 am ET I was wachting the travel channel.it was call maimai hotspots. they have a wonder underwater grave site that look like the alantis in the bahamas there are only forty graves site. This trip take you couples hours and you have to scuba dive. cost to two thousand and up. This this is a perfect place for micheal jackson resting place! This place is the only! water grave in the world. anderson cooper please check ths out for the jackson familly. also this is my first blog. |
|
| Tammy, Houma, LA |
July 9th, 2009 10:56 am ET Is this any worse than the philandering done by John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton while in office? Or the indiscretions of every other politician past and present who has remained in office despite the scandal and embarrassment of their behaviors? If Americans are dumb enough to tolerate the indiscretions of our politicians and defend them (because apparently no one elected to office is ever held to a higher standard around this nation), we have no right to point fingers at anything happening in Italy. What this prime minister does is none of our business. |
|
| j |
July 9th, 2009 11:05 am ET Dear Sir / Madam: |
|
| Lori |
July 9th, 2009 11:16 am ET In my opinion, this isn't news. |
|
| VITA ZEMAITIS |
July 9th, 2009 12:05 pm ET Berlusconi is really something! However, even if my name is VITA,I don't really believe in "la dolce vita",ecially in politics – it's too distracting. There should be a certain amount of dignity in G-8 Summit. |
|
| Donna Wood, Lil' Tennessee |
July 9th, 2009 12:29 pm ET Why is something so ridiculous even news worthy?Who cares who the Premier brings to the Summit as long as he brings himself! Donna Wood |
|
| Joanne Pacicca |
July 9th, 2009 12:45 pm ET I am Italian...you gotta love the hot mess in the politics of the motherland! Frankly, this entire debacle is humorous. Sure, dignity is important, but let's live life with all the humanism and humor available in the otherwise serous news! |
|
| Isabel, Brazil |
July 9th, 2009 1:02 pm ET I, eh! The article only talks about Silvio Berlusconi, his scandals and his women. The title and video are in disagreement with the content! Too bad! |
|
| Jan |
July 9th, 2009 3:41 pm ET Sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll! What has happened to the real CNN? |
|
| Eugenia - San Francisco, Ca |
July 9th, 2009 4:22 pm ET Please you keep on fusing about the Prime Ministers sex life. More power to him, Americans are so hung up on the sex life of others. They are both consenting adults. Everyone needs to have a healthy sex life. Period. It's just like enjoying food. There is a difference between food and really good food, same goes for the sex department! Beside the tabloidish side effects, The G-8 Summit is very important! |
|
| Annie Kate |
July 9th, 2009 10:06 pm ET The G8 summit is a very important summit – especially for climate change goals between the nations. Can we hear something about this rather than the sex and tabloid sensationalism. So what that the Italian prime minister is in his late 70s and can keep 20 year old women to 40 year old women sexually satisfied? In Italy to quote a revered source – That's Amore!! |
|
|
Comments have been closed for this article |
||
A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper, the AC360° staff and a network of contributors. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.
We search the news each day to show you what’s on our radar and what we’re planning for the show each night.
For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.
Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.
- Raw Data: Youth violence in the U.S.
- Your year in 30 seconds
- Video: Teens' world explodes in brawl
- Husband of missing Utah woman to be interviewed today
- Holy Jihad, Batman! Al-Qaeda Offers Condolences?
- Tonight's show
- Dear President Obama #329: Back to work ... thank heavens
- Theme of the '00s? Unpaid bills
- Can Obama bully the bankers?
- The Top 10 Everything of 2009
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2005
