Berlusconi goes europe !

[-TU--33ker 0]

Better than having "Mr. Bader-Meinhoff" Joschka Fischer I suppose 

I think he would be a better candidate. Ok he once has beaten up a cop at a demonstration. but he wasn't a terrorist. and he really had the balls to do some things which noone did before in the german parliament. I respect his work because he seems to know very well what he does. he's doing a very good job representing germany. He's the most popular politician in Germany.

are there any italian members who can tell us something about how berlusconi usually runs his buisiness in italy and how the people react?

I'd like to know how he became the president of the EU? noone really would "elect" him because everyone knows about his corruption affairs. Maybe they picked the country by accident and it was Italy's turn?

[Balschoiw 0]

Quote[/b] ]are there any italian members who can tell us something about how berlusconi usually runs his buisiness in italy and how the people react?

Shhhh, this forum is owned by him

*Balschoiw turns on cloaking device and vanishes*

[ran 0]

$33ker @ July 02 2003,18:23)]are there any italian members who can tell us something about how berlusconi usually runs his buisiness in italy and how the people react?

I'd like to know how he became the president of the EU? noone really would "elect" him because everyone knows about his corruption affairs. Maybe they picked the country by accident and it  was Italy's turn?

<span id='ME'><center>ran me takes a raucous voice with a sicilian accent</center></span>

Ma che , haven't you heard about the Omertta , mio figlio ?

[Koolkid101 0]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20030702/ap_on_re_eu/eu_berlusconi_9

Berlusconi Nazi Comment Triggers Outrage

1 hour, 17 minutes ago Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!

By CONSTANT BRAND, Associated Press Writer

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi provoked an uproar during a Wednesday speech to the European Parliament by telling a German critic he should star as a Nazi concentration camp guard in a movie.

AP Photo

The remark prompted a rebuke from the parliament president, Pat Cox, who suspended the session after the flamboyant Berlusconi refused to withdraw his comment, saying it was meant as an "ironic joke."

Berlusconi, in his first appearance before the assembly since Italy assumed the European Union (news - web sites) presidency on Tuesday, made his remark during a question-and-answer session following his speech.

During that session, German socialist Martin Schulz referred to Berlusconi's use of an Italian immunity law to sidestep bribery charges in a Milan court.

"In Italy, they are making a movie on Nazi concentration camps," Berlusconi snapped back. "I will propose you for the role of capo," or chief.

The comment triggered outrage among the 626-members of the EU assembly.

Schulz said the remark showed Berlusconi was unfit to represent Europe.

Berlusconi's words "debase the presidency of the (EU) council and offend Europe," said Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrat group in the European Parliament.

Schulz and Cox demanded an apology, but Berlusconi would only say it was meant as an "ironic joke."

Cox then closed the parliamentary debate, saying, "I regret the offense caused to a respected member, my colleague Mr. Schulz. It would be appropriate to correct the record in this regard. The debate is now closed."

During a news conference, Berlusconi again refused to apologize, insisting his Nazi comment was meant as a joke inspired by the German legislator's "tone and gestures."

"My joke wasn't meant to be offensive," Berlusconi said. "It was an ironic joke, perhaps the translation wasn't done in an ironic sense."

Berlusconi appeared before the parliament in Strasbourg, France, to outline his government's plans for the EU's six-month rotating presidency.

He promised to work to improve ties with the United States following the Iraq (news - web sites) war and to involve Europe in the quest for Middle East peace.

Berlusconi, a staunch supporter of President Bush (news - web sites), said boosting the EU's role on the world stage would only work if the bloc renewed ties with Washington.

However, attention quickly focused on Berlusconi's wheeler-dealer image and allegations by critics he is unfit to represent Europe.

On Monday, a Milan court suspended Berlusconi's trial for allegedly bribing Italian judges in the 1980s, years before he went into politics, to sway a ruling in the sale of state-held food conglomerate SME. The billionaire media mogul has denied the charges.

The trial was halted after the Italian Parliament last month adopted legislation granting legal immunity to top officials.

As Berlusconi rose to address the 626-member European Parliament, seven Green party members held up placards saying "everybody is equal under the law."

Berlusconi responded: "If this is your idea of democracy, you ought to visit Italy as tourists. You are behaving as tourists."

Berlusconi also pledged that his government would complete negotiations on the first constitution for an expanded EU and would combat illegal immigration. The bloc grows from 15 to 25 members next year.

"The Italian presidency will do all in its power ... to take responsible decisions on our future," Berlusconi said. "There is a great deal of moral and intellectual responsibility on our shoulders."

He also pointed to the need to kick-start the sputtering EU economy by investing in bloc-wide upgrades of transportation networks, which he said would create new jobs and investment.

Even before the concentration camp remark, the debate focused as much on Berlusconi's personal suitability for the EU's top job as on his presidential agenda.

Green leader Monica Frassoni likened Berlusconi to Attila the Hun, whose barbarian hordes ravished Europe in the 5th century without regard for the law.

"Many people have been worried at your arrival, as an 'Attila of the Union,'" Frassoni said. "Political power, I'm afraid, leads to temptations to be above the law."

Berlusconi is Italy's richest man. He controls a $7.8 billion media empire that includes the nation's largest private television broadcaster, Mediaset.

Together with state-run RAI, he controls about 90 percent of Italy's television market, leading critics to charge he has too much influence over information that can be use for political and personal gains.

[Tamme 0]

Berlusconi is bad for EU. He's a dictator that should be thrown away before he causes any serious damage.

[Bernadotte 0]

Nice photo:

[ran 0]

some EU representative should pretend to make a lapsus and call "la Berlue" Benito , or Mussolini , or both

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

yep, got that too! .

The german representant answered that his respect for the victims of the Nazi regime would not allow him to answer to such a provokation. But he would however see no reason for Berlusconi loosing his temper (contenance) in such a rapid way.

[Postduifje 0]

There's allways the discussion wheter we "feel" more like a european, or more like an inhabitant of your current nation. Mostly I answer that I still "feel" dutch, but this just makes me feel ashamed to be a European I get irritated only watching that man.

-Post

[ran 0]

world premiere : Silvenitto Berlussolini

[sanctuary 19]

Hey

I know this guy

Isnt he the one that corrupt justice ?

Isnt he the one that made law to protect himself ?

Isnt he the one that close any kind of opposition to him ?

Isnt he the one that cant think before talking ?

Yes , i am now sure i know this guy , we allowed him to be president of the european union without contesting this choice !

[Tamme 0]

Oh my god! I've made a terrible mistake! Look at the halo over his head! He must be a saint!

[ran 0]

Oh my god! I've made a terrible mistake! Look at the halo over his head! He must be a saint!

hhhhaaaaaaaaaaalleeeelllllujaaaah

let's adore San Benitto

[Postduifje 0]

See here, the two people with the wold's largest power/intelligence ratio  

[ran 0]

See here, the two people with the wold's largest power/intelligence ratio  

heh don't compare bush and berlue , berlue is a sneaky vicious fox

[Balschoiw 0]

Quote[/b] ]hhhhaaaaaaaaaaalleeeelllllujaaaah

let's adore San Benitto

A_M_E_N !

there goes the european parliament...

Fa fan culo Presidente Berlusconi !

[ran 0]

Quote[/b] ]hhhhaaaaaaaaaaalleeeelllllujaaaah

let's adore San Benitto

A_M_E_N !

there goes the european parliament...

Fa fan culo Presidente Berlusconi !

you see !!!!!

i meant silvio instead of benitto

[Tamme 0]

Maybe we should be more careful... What if Berlusconi sees this and buys BIS!! "Operation Flashpoint 2 - You are Berlusconi the famous manager. Arrange big movie roles to EU parlament members." Cool.

[ran 0]

Maybe we should be more careful... What if Berlusconi sees this and buys BIS!! "Operation Flashpoint 2 - You are Berlusconi the famous manager. Arrange big movie roles to EU parlament members." Cool.

heh , he'll end up like BBBEEEEENIIIIITTTTTTTTTOOOOOO !!!!!!

[hellfish6 7]

OK, this is beginning to turn into a big meal of green eggs and SPAM. If there's nothing more meaningful to say, then I'll close the topic.

[ran 0]

hellfish , there's not much to say about this guy , once you've talked about his power on a political and financiary plan and his arrogance , you've made his portrait

[Frisbee 0]

Didn't he once say that the western civilisation was superior to others,and used the islam as an example of an inferior civilisation?

Very smart thing to do in these times.

[der bastler 0]

Well, read this Reuters news article.

Quote[/b] ]

Berlusconi later said he did not mean to offend German feelings, but he declined to retract the comment or apologise to Social Democratic MEP Martin Schulz.

The flare-up came after Schulz criticised an alleged conflict of interest between the political role of Italy's richest man and his extensive media empire, and deplored outspoken comments on immigration by Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi.

"Mr Schulz, I know there is in Italy a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of Kapo. You'd be perfect," Berlusconi exclaimed to jeers in the chamber.

Kapos were usually petty criminals, sometimes Jewish, used by Nazi German death camp authorities during World War Two to enforce harsh discipline on Jews and other inmates.

Berlusconi refused to withdraw the remark when given the opportunity by EU Parliament President Pat Cox and at a news conference. But he later told centre-right EU parliamentarians he regretted his words had hurt the feelings of the Germans.

"I could not imagine that this would hurt the feelings of our friends the German people," he told reporters. "I am sorry, I am saddened that there has been a misinterpretation."

Ah, right, but that's not logical, because...

Quote[/b] ]

The Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador late on Wednesday and told him Schulz's remarks were "a grave, unacceptable offence" to Berlusconi's dignity and to the Italian and European institutions.

Berlusconi said Schulz had insulted him and his country. He interrupted Cox at a joint news conference by banging on the table imitating the manner in which some MEPs had barracked him.

Schulz had insulted him and his country? But the other way around Berlusconi didn't insult us? Comparing a german politician with a Nazi is imho the worst insult possible.

Simply spoken: "Berlusconi, go home!"  

[FallenPaladin 0]

Mr. Berlusconi is living in Berlusconi Wonder World!! He`s not longer one of us.

[raedor 8]

$33ker @ July 02 2003,18:23)]I'd like to know how he became the president of the EU? noone really would "elect" him because everyone knows about his corruption affairs. Maybe they picked the country by accident and it  was Italy's turn?

yes, it is italy's turn. that's the way it goes. before italy it was greeks turn (Mr. Papadopulo or something like this... erm... i think greek sweets have the same name...).

here u can see who's next...