Yesterday lawyers acting for Silvio Berlusconi served writs against a number of Italian and international news publications seeking to prevent them from running stories about his personal and professional life. In response, the freedom of speech group Articolo 21 has called for the mass republication of the ten questions about the Letizia affair asked by La Repubblica that Berlusconi has refused to answer.
In a spirit primarily of mischief - but also because Berlusconi should not be allowed to use his financial muscle to suppress legitimate questions about whether he has misused his political power to obtain personal favours - here are the questions:
Mr President, how and when did you first meet Noemi Letizia's father?
During the course of this friendship how many times, and where, have you met?
How would you describe the reasons for your friendship with Benedetto Letizia?
Why did you discuss candidates with Signor Letizia, who is not even a member of the PM?
When did you get to know Noemi Letizia?
How many times have you met Naomi Leiria, and where?
Do you take an interest in Noemi and her future, or support her family economically in any way?
Is it true that you promised Noemi you would help her career in show business or in politics?
Veronica Lario said that you 'frequent underage girls?" Do you meet any others or 'Bring them up'?
Your wife says that you are not well and that you 'need help'. What is the state of your health?
Do feel free to disseminate this text as energetically and as promiscuously as Berlusconi might do himself.
"We all have flaws, and mine is being wicked." James Thurber, The Thirteen Clocks 1951
This is a scandalous infringement on an upstanding and honourable man's privacy Mr Throb. I demand that you remove it forthwith or I will be seeking legal redress.
I have not been paid by Mr Burlesqueoni to say this. Yet (but I understand that the cheque's in the post).
That is the best name I've heard in many many years. Possibly better even than Brion Clinkingbeard, curator of Plymouth (or maybe Portsmouth) Art Gallery.
His nose seems to have been deformed with an amusing photoshop plugin too.
I think X3n should be informed:
quote:
Dino raped by Berlusconi
"We all have flaws, and mine is being wicked." James Thurber, The Thirteen Clocks 1951
