Anatomy of Berluscoland

Dozens of official and private flights carry to Sardinia every weekend a cohort of beauties who entertain the head of the Italian government and his friends. Following the first lady's accusations and the Noemigate, Italy reveals to the world its air of lower empire. Will Berlusconi have to pay a price?

Endless gardens, artificial lakes, sexual organs on display, lesbian games, special effects, free pizza and ice cream... A geriatric rest home full of terrific bodies. The photographs censored in Italy following Silvio Berlusconi's initiative illustrate the uninhibited routine at the mansion the head of State owns on the Emerald Coast of Sardinia.

Monday June 1, the gardens of the Quirinal presidential palace, Day of the Republic: hundreds of the regime's grandees go up to greet the prime minister, hounded by the reactions to news of his friendship with Noemi Letizia, an 18 year old girl. Seventy percent of those distinguished personalities approach Mr Berlusconi with their daughters in tow, not their wives. Welcome to Berluscoland, the country where all young girls want to be veline (TV hostesses).

Let us now visit Villa Certosa, the mysterious Sardinian mansion property of the Milanese tycoon who is currently Prime Minister and rotating president of the G-8, as well as leader of the People of Freedom party, elected by show of hands. Since it was revealed that Noemi Letizia, the 18 year old young woman from Naples who calls Berlusconi "Papi", spent New Year's eve at the house along with 30 other veline (TV hostesses), all Italians fantasize with that name: Villa Certosa. The property is every mobster's dream, especially if he is under arrest: olive and palm trees, pools everywhere, free ice cream and pizza at will, artificial lakes, an amphitheater where the unavoidable Mariano Apicella, who has published two records with Berlusconi as song writer, plays and sings his Neapolitan songs...

As the philosopher Paolo Flores d'Arcais says, "The question is not what happens or has happened at Villa Certosa, but rather what would have happened in the United States if it had become public knowledge that Obama had spent his Christmas holidays with thirty 18 year old cabaret stars and without his wife, or in Germany if they found out that Angela Merkel goes on vacation with 30 hot gigolos".