By Greg Milam, Europe Correspondent

You could never accuse Silvio Berlusconi of hanging around.

Not even back in the PM’s office yet and already he’s busy upsetting people.

First, the Spanish: silver-tongued Silvio criticised the Spanish prime-minister for appointing so many women to his cabinet. “Too pink” was the old charmer’s verdict. “Now he’s asked for it. He’ll have problems leading them,” he added of PM Zapatero’s nine female ministers.

(Remember that election candidate who said Berlusconi only “viewed women in the horizontal”)

Next up, the immigrant population, or as Silvio describes them “the army of evil”. He’s promised to “step up neighbourhood police, who can be an army of good, placing themselves between the Italian people and the army of evil.”

His friends in the Northern League party, which supported him to his election victory this week, once said migrants trying to reach Italy in boats should be shot.

He’s also already earned a new nickname. His talk of importing ideas from the new French president has had him labelled ‘Berluscozy’ in some European papers.

And Nicolas S would have been delighted with Silvio putting the boot into the European Central Bank for the way it runs the euro-zone. A man after his own heart, surely.

Oh, and there’s a chance he could find himself in a Milan court as a defence witness in a CIA ‘rendition’ trial. The spy chief from when Silvio was last in power is on trial along with 26 Americans over the alleged kidnap of a suspected terrorist.

Still Berlusconi found time for a meeting with the sort-of-outgoing Russian president Vladimir Putin in Sardinia.

And he managed to list the galaxy of players that fans of AC Milan, which he owns, can expect to see arriving this summer.

So, talk of Ronaldhinho and Shevchenko one minute, on the blower to Bush and Brown the next.

It is like he’s never been away.

Comments

[Elisabeth Apr 19, 2008 11:40:21 PM]

So at least he may put italy back onto an even keel, couldn't do any worse than the Prodi government that was well on its way to becoming dictatorship. Berlusconi bashers should stop and think about all the small businesses Prodi and his sheep put out of business. Big brother has nothing on what they were doing.
Elisabeth Italy

[Khalid Apr 18, 2008 1:02:05 PM]

[Ooops Upside Your Head] I nearly forgot about the [Gap Band]

[Luisa, Italy Apr 18, 2008 6:22:12 AM]

Oh boy! I feel shame.

[Sandra Ryan. Spain. Apr 18, 2008 4:34:30 AM]

So Mr. Milam what your actually saying is that he is a really really nice person!!!!!!!!!!