You MUST click!The Daily Mail (tabloid, UK)
Saturday 13 June 2009
The truth about Berlusconi
and his phone calls
to my 'little anchovy':
.......Former boyfriend of
.......lingerie model speaks out
By Nick Pisa
Silvio Berlusconi promised to explain his relationship with a teenage model as the personal and political scandal engulfing him intensified yesterday.
The Italian premier, 72, said he would address parliament about his ties with Noemi Letizia, 18, which have dominated the country's media for a month.
72 - 18 = 54
The pressure increased yesterday when her former boyfriend claimed they split up because she was spending too much time with the wealthy politician.
Personal calls: Noemi Letizia wearing a diamond necklace given to her by the Italian premier. Right, modelling lingerie
Gino Flaminio, 22, said Miss Letizia stopped being 'the Noemi or little anchovy, as I called her, that I knew'.
He also claimed Mr Berlusconi had lied about being an old friend of the family, saying he called the model out of the blue after seeing some of her photos.
The controversy erupted when it emerged Mr Berlusconi had gone to Miss Letizia's birthday party and given her a gold and diamond necklace.
His wife Veronica Lario, 52, then announced she was leaving him and seeking a divorce, claiming he 'spends too much time with minors'.
Mr Flaminio told how the politician and model's relationship began around last October when Miss Letizia had done a photo shoot for her modelling book and sent it to an agency in Rome.
He said the portfolio was picked up by a friend of Mr Berlusconi, who later went to the premier's house and inadvertently left it there.
'One afternoon while she was studying, Berlusconi personally called her - not his secretary or assistant,' said Mr Flaminio.
Estranged: Silvio Berlusconi and his wife Veronica
He added that Mr Berlusconi asked her questions for several minutes before revealing his identity.
Mr Flaminio added that he often listened in when the pair spoke. In one call, the premier asked about Miss Letizia's schooling, her interests and her parents.
'Berlusconi had a fatherly attitude and I didn't like it. I told her I didn't like it. She is a sweet and innocent girl.'
He said he and Miss Letizia broke up after she said she was going to Mr Berlusconi's Sardinian villa for New Year.
'Noemi told me there were around 30 girls there and they were given bungalows in the grounds to sleep in.
'She said Berlusconi treated them well and laughed and joked with them.
'I would call her mobile and she would not answer. So I called Roberta, a friend who was with her, but she kept telling me Noemi was busy.
'They flew back on the Prime Minister's personal plane. When she got back, she wasn't my Noemi, she wasn't the Noemi or little anchovy, as I called her, that I knew.
'It became clear we had no future. It was as if Britney Spears was seeing the local butcher on the corner.'
In an interview yesterday, recorded before Mr Flaminio's interview in the La Repubblica newspaper, Mr Berlusconi said there was nothing 'negative' about the
relationship.
He added that he would talk about it in parliament but without setting a date.
Yesterday Miss Letizia's father Benedetto said he and Mr Berlusconi met in 1990 but their friendship grew in 2001. Soon after, Mr Letizia introduced Mr Berlusconi to his daughter, then aged 10.
The tycoon, he said, told her to 'consider me like your grandpa'. Mr Letizia joked she should call Mr Berlusconi 'Papi' as he was not old enough to be a grandfather.
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COMMENTS (20)
I rather like Mr Berlusconi myself. For 72 he looks amazing.
- Maureen Muirhead, South Kensington, London, 26/5/2009 4:02
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How boring Gordon Brown seems.
- p.doff, audierne france, 26/5/2009 2:09
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Since Tone dragged The Wicked WItch of the West out of Downing Street, this old man has to be the undisputed Clown of Europe!
- Charlotte Southon, Hadleigh, England, 26/5/2009 0:29
Click to rate Rating 27
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At least he's not stealing from the taxpaying public like the uk politicians.
- peter, Redland Bay, Australia, 25/5/2009 20:20
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Poor Italy, someone rescue her.
- Sarah, Brighton, UK, 25/5/2009 17:47
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Silvio we're waiting................. This should be good for a laugh !!!
- Elisa, Italy, 25/5/2009 16:36
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His soon to be ex-wife looks like Natalie Imbruglia
- J G, Billericay, 25/5/2009 15:17
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Please! If Noemi was a boy, the press would be cheering Berlusconi's "lifestyle choice!" Good for him!
- Carl, Los Angeles, USA, 25/5/2009 14:26
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At a guess Burlesquoni will come just as clean as is necessary to prove that everything was 'open and above board'. That this man is a head of state defies all comprehension. He makes Bill Clinton look like a boy scout by comparison.
- Bwj, Uk, 25/5/2009 12:26
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A minor? She looks like an adult, could get married without her parents' permission. I guess there is a new standard for world leaders - fidelity required. Let Hillary know.
- ted logan, Greensboro, NC, 25/5/2009 12:17
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What a flaming clown!
- Larry, Vancouver, WA, 25/5/2009 11:49
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you brits should be the last one to teach about morality, look at your royal family and your politicians
- megan, milan italy, 25/5/2009 11:43
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a 5300 uk pound, not dollar necklace to a very young, sexy and impressionable girl with whom he has no relationship.What a kind man!! makes me feel a 'cheap charlie'.I wonder if he was able to put this into his Government expenses as essential expenditure to further national growth and help to make inroad into new territories.His wife is wise to dump him and perhaps Italy should consider this as well.
TR Brighton Sussex
- Dr T Ronald, Brighton,Sussex,England, 25/5/2009 9:55
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watch italian tv... full of YOUNg girls in VERY short skirts and VERY old guys who do not make an avuncular impression.
i ma sorry for mrs. lario, and also for the young girl. and for the country i live in as being represented by this immoral person berlusconi is embarrassing.
- renata, italy, 25/5/2009 9:17
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The beauty of all this, Silvio "papi" as the girl called him, is detracting from the real problems, economy, election and the Mills trial. Mr. Berlusconi is indignant of the press, what he needs is the British press and then he would have casue to be indignant. The Fleet streets bulldogs are nothing in comparison to the Italian Puddles journalists. It is high time that all the laws which have protected the Presidente del Consiglio (Prime Minister for you) are removed and he is made to face the music. With all due respect to him as a business man he is exceptional but when he comes to politics is beginning to be a liability to Italy, that said like in the UK, the rest is not much better, in some cases much much worst.
- loris, milan, 25/5/2009 8:10
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of course I absolutely desagree with Mr Franceschini, Berusconi has NEVER been found alone with the girl, there were ALWAYS crowds of people around. It's clear he had nothin to keep hidden and so there's nothing to be explained!He's so popular so it's natural he meets lots of people and ..most of his fans are very young becouse he speaks their language.The point is that the left-wing KNOWS he cannot be defeated politically so they try...by other means!!!
- Davide, Cagliari- Sardinia Italy, 25/5/2009 7:56
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poor man - everything he does is under constant scrutiny. all that wealth and no privacy. what a life.
- Julie, LONDON, UK, 25/5/2009 7:46
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This man is a joke. But so are our politicians.
- taff, wales, 25/5/2009 6:19
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Why do they have to wash dirty linen in public; how common can they get.
- J Thomas, Lincoln England, 25/5/2009 6:15
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Money Money Money must be funny in a rich man's world.
- keesa, italy, 25/5/2009 5:33
