Agency CEO and managing partner are out.

“We deeply regret this incident."

Kind of off-message, wouldn't you say?

[credit provider=”AP”] Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to a year in prison in banking wiretap scandal, The Associated Press reports.He is likely to appeal and will remain free in the meantime, according to the BBC.

[credit provider=”Bill Emmott/Girlfriend In A Coma” url=”http://girlfriendinacoma.eu”] A day before election day two weeks ago, Italian authorities halted a screening of a documentary by the former editor of The Economist about the country’s society-wide crisis.The film, “Girlfriend In A Coma” — a play on the Smiths’ song speaking to Emmott’s […]

[credit provider=”Fabrizio Goria” url=”https://twitter.com/FGoria/status/303954748602712064″] “I’m appalled that two clowns have won,” said Peer Steinbrück about the Italian election, referring to former comedian, now hot politician, Beppe Grillo, head of the 5 Star movement, and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.One of them is “a professional clown who doesn’t mind being called […]

[credit provider=”Olivier Morin/AFP”] Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation for corruption again over allegations that he bribed a leftist senator in 2006, Italian media reported on Thursday.”Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in Naples for corruption in a scandal over the ‘purchase’ of senators,” leftist daily La Repubblica […]

Rome, Italy — While we wait for more results in the Italian election, let’s take a moment to recall why Berlusconi has made this such a competitive race, much to the chagrin of world markets, Brussels, and Angela Merkel.

[credit provider=”AP”] Markets have turned red on news that Silvio Berlusconi is doing much better than expected in the Italian election, at least based on Senate polls.Analyst Dave Lutz of Stifel, Nicolaus just IMd a very simple explanation of what’s going on  and why it matters.

Rome, Italy — The Italian stock market rally has completely collapsed.

Quick Italy update.

We just got done mentioning how amusing it was that there was a strip club across from Silvio Berlusconi’s main Rome HQ.

Rome, Italy — The headquarters for Silvio Berlusconi’s party, PDL, is on a narrow street called Via Dell’Umilta at number 36.

[credit provider=”Wikimedia/Presidenza della Repubblica and Wikimedia/ESMT”] While we have discussed the strategic implications of tomorrow’s critical Italian elections previously (An Italian “Hung Parliament” – Europe’s Biggest Political Risk), the actual chronology of events of tomorrow’s Italian elections which proceed through Monday is somewhat nebulous. So courtesy of JPM’s Alex White, […]

Milan, Italy — Italy’s big election starts tomorrow (voting occurs on Sunday and Monday) and the general thinking is that centre-left candidate Pier Luigi Bersani is going to emerge as the winner. Well, technically because this is a parliamentary system his party is running, and the thinking is that his […]

[credit provider=”AP/Andrew Medichini”] Silvio Berlusconi appears to be in clear 2nd place for this weekend’s Italian election.But it’s close.

[credit provider=”AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia”] The Italian general election will be held next week.Currently, the lead is held by Pier Luigi Bersani, head of Italy’s left democratic party.

Europe grows even more wary about Silvio Berlusconi winning the Italian election on February 24-25.

Silvio Berlusconi’s younger brother Paolo is the publisher of an Italian right wing newspaper called Il Giornale and the vice president of soccer club AC Milan.

Italy is suddenly back in turmoil. The economy is crappy again and the stock market tanked 4.5% yesterday. The scary part is that there’s an election coming up in just under 20 days, Silvio Berlusconi could return to power.

Did you see what Italy did today?

[credit provider=”Wikimedia/Presidenza della Repubblica and Wikimedia/ESMT”] Silvio Berlusconi is like the Pied Piper of Hamlin and will lead Italians to disaster if elected for a fourth time at next month’s elections, his challenger Mario Monti has warned.Mr Monti, who is contesting the election as the leader of a centrist coalition, […]

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is stirring the pot again – this time with Germany’s largest bank in his crosshairs – as he attempts to regain his old position.

You don’t have to speak Italian to appreciate how frustrated the on-air interviewer in this clip must be.

[credit provider=”AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia”] Italy’s indefatigable former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has appeared on television for the third time in as many days, saying that Italy needed him to return.”You need me, and I always help people in need,” Berlusconi, 76, said in a lengthy interview with Rai Uno ahead […]

[credit provider=”AP”] Francois Hollande, the French president, has dismissed speculation that Silvio Berlusconi might stand for a fourth term as the Italian premier.Mr Hollande said “I don’t think there is a very serious likelihood” of the 76-year-old Italian making another bid for public office.

[credit provider=”Claudio Villa/Getty Images”] Silvio Berlusconi sought to draw a line under his “bunga bunga” parties when he announced he was engaged to his girlfriend 50 years his junior, who makes him feel “less lonely.”In a wide-ranging interview aired on the talk show “Domenica Live” on his Canale 5 TV […]

[credit provider=”Wikimedia/Presidenza della Repubblica and Wikimedia/ESMT”] Silvio Berlusconi was not exactly a welcome guest when he turned up in Brussels for the pre-summit gathering of Europe’s centre-right leaders.Some worried about being photographed next to Mr Bunga-Bunga.

It is easy to see Silvio Berlusconi as an egocentric and ageing clown figure desperate to stay relevant—­­especially when looked at from outside Italy. But this would be a mistake. He is no Donald Trump. His message is real and should be heeded, both in Rome and Berlin, even if […]

The other day, we mentioned how strange it was that Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti had said he wanted the “spread” between Italian and German borrowing costs to fall to 287 basis points.

All anyone is talking about today is Italy, where stocks are getting destroyed, and borrowing costs are rising, thanks to Silvio Berlusconi’s re-entrance into politics.

Left wing French newspaper Libération is running the following cover tomorrow, dealing with Silvio Berlusconi’s weekend announcement that he will (again) be seeking re-election as Italian prime minister.

Silvio Berlusconi on Saturday ended weeks of speculation by announcing he would again run for the job of prime minister, which he was forced out of last year.

[credit provider=”AP”] After months and months of dropping hints, Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that yes, he will be running to be Prime Minister of Italy again.According to reports in Italian press, Angelino Alfano, Secretary of the PDL, said “Berlusconi is on the field” and will lead the PDL at the […]

Everything was going along swimmingly. Markets were up. Italian borrowing costs were at 2-year lows.

Silvio Berlusconi has dropped heavy hints once again that he intends to fight the country’s next elections.

[credit provider=”AP”] Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi — who has made on and of again noises about getting back into politics — is now talking about it again.Reuters:

[credit provider=”AP”] Members of an Italian gang have been arrested on suspicion of taking hostage Silvio Berlusconi’s accountant as part of a plot to extort 35 million euros (£28 million) from the former prime minister.Police said Giuseppe Spinelli, 71, one of the ex-premier’s most trusted confidantes, was taken hostage with […]

[credit provider=”www.uncoached.com” url=”http://www.uncoached.com/2009/08/10/shes-uncoachable-sara-varone-is-the-hottest-television-show-host-ever/”] A year after the fall of Silvio Berlusconi, the new head of Italy’s state television has launched a crusade against the ‘Bunga Bunga era’Almost a year to the day after the fall of Silvio Berlusconi, a quiet revolution is under way in Italian television. Once notorious for […]

All of Europe is down today, but Italy is taking the worst of it.

[credit provider=”AP”] Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to 4 years in jail for tax evasion by a Milan court, according to Reuters.The case revolved around a plan by Berlusconi’s Mediaset company to purchase the rights to broadcast U.S. movies on Berlusconi’s private television networks.

While the UK Royals have today won an injunction in a French court that prevents Closer from republishing pictures of Kate Middleton topless, it’s really just closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. The pictures have already been published in Ireland and Italy, and they are — of […]

[credit provider=”AP”] In 2004, Silvio Berlusconi, then the controversial Prime Minister of Italy, hinted that his luxurious Sardinian Villa Certosa — where he hosted his notorious bunga bunga parties — had an underwater escape route.”It was the secret services who asked me to carry out the work, after I had received […]

[credit provider=”en.wikipedia.org” url=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MSC_Divina_a_Istanbul.JPG”] The Italian former prime minister is due to join a cruise from Venice this month in what many are seeing as an attempt to relaunch his political career.Cabaret dancers are what cruise ships normally offer as entertainment – or, at the more refined end of the market, […]

[credit provider=”Silvio Berlusconi on Facebook” url=”http://www.facebook.com/SilvioBerlusconi”] Silvio Berlusconi seems to love using Facebook. He said some slightly crazy things on the social network about the ECB last summer, and even announced his resignation on it in November.Now he seems to be using it to hint at a comeback, a widely […]

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal last month, Italian PM Mario Monti criticised former PM Silvio Berlusconi and his government, saying “I think that if the previous government were still in power, Italy’s spreads would now be at 1200 or something.”

Il Giornale is a Berlusconi family newspaper technically owned by Silvio’s brothers.

[credit provider=”AP”] Italy’s biggest problem is now clear, and it’s likely to remain Italy’s biggest problem for some time to come – the country has no politicians.Finally, I’ve cracked it.  I’ve understood what Italy biggest problem is, and no, it’s not Silvio Berlusconi, in case you were wondering.

[credit provider=”AP”] It’s not that surprising that Berlusconi is again in the news for alleged links to the mafia. What is surprising, however, is in this case, Berlusconi is alleged to be the victim of blackmail from an Italian Senator, reports Reuters.Even more surprising, however, is that the man who […]

[credit provider=”AP Images” url=”http://www.apimages.com/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=Silvio%20Berlusconi&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=10&kwstyle=and&adte=1320418862&pagez=60&cfasstyle=AND&rids=71c767f3d47b4fde878a726c50118f9a&dbm=PY2010&page=1&xslt=1&mediatype=Photo”] Earlier today, German Newspaper Bild published an interview with ex-Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi and that featured some typical Silvio comments.Aside from the usual bragging about saving Italy from “communism” and the like, Berlusconi also found time to brag about his relationship with Angela Merkel […]

He’s ba-ack…

[credit provider=”Business Insider Story by Adam taylor” url=”http://www.businessinsider.com.au/berlusconi-women-bunga-bunga-2011-9#”] Merkel Hardens Position The EU summit is a day away and pre-summit bickering is so intense that it will be difficult if not impossible to get any major agreements. Two days ago, in a speech in German parliament, Bloomberg reported Merkel Hardens […]

A number of comments made by Silvio Berlusconi in the past few days have led to a worrying conclusion — a Berlusconi comeback in could be on the cards for 2012.

[credit provider=”YouTube Screenshot” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62S5uKL8eAU”] Silvio Berlusconi, accused of paying for sex with an underage dancer at one of his notorious “bunga bunga” parties, may be in for a bad month.In a new interview, bunga bunga guest and Brazilian model Michelle Conceicao, says that she can confirm the former Italian prime […]

[credit provider=”AP”] ROME (Reuters) – Former Premier Silvio Berlusconi said on Saturday he was only joking when he suggested that Italy should dump the euro unless the European Central Bank agreed to inject more cash into the economy.”We have to go to Europe and say forcefully that the ECB should […]

[credit provider=”Silvio Berlusconi on Facebook” url=”http://www.facebook.com/SilvioBerlusconi”] Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi is writing some funny things on his Facebook page today.Arguing that the eurozone crisis has become a “recessive spiral,” he calls on Germany to get on board with more activist measures or get out of the currency union.

[credit provider=”YouTube” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rylD28YvxNs&feature=plcp”] In the latest bizarre twist in Silvio Berlusconi’s epic “bunga bunga” drama, a young female guest at the parties has revealed that she dressed as Barack Obama at one party hosted by the former Italian premier, Reuters reports.”I dressed up as [Italian prosecutor Ilda] Boccassini with a […]

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons” url=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nicolas_Sarkozy,_2010.jpg”] It’s official — The Sarkozy era is over.With that in mind, we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of the highs and lows of Nicolas’ time in office.

[credit provider=”AP”] Silvio Berlusconi, in an unusual move, found time to attend his own trial for allegedly using an underage prostitute today, the Guardian reports.He also found time to say some weird things about women to reporters outside.

[credit provider=”AP”] Former Italian Prime Minister and notorious Lothario Silvio Berlusconi has mostly been out of the spotlight since stepping down from office in November — however his trail over a relationship with an underage nightclub dancer, Karima el-Mahroug aka “Ruby the Heartbreaker”, continues.The exciting news today is that model […]

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons/theriddle”] Italy’s leading populist politician Umberto Bossi resigned on Thursday after a financial scandal engulfed his Northern League party, said the BBC.The Northern League is the only prominent opposition party to Prime Minister Mario Monti’s government. Francesco Belsito, the party’s treasurer, resigned on Tuesday after prosecutors alleged that he […]

[credit provider=”AP”] Italy’s right-wing Northern League party, former ally of Silvio Berlusconi, is being investigated for suspected fraud and embezzlement of public funds, the BBC reports.Ironically, the party is known for attacking all forms of corruption and prides itself on being “clean”.

[credit provider=”AP”] ROME (AP) — Thanks to two Marios, Italy’s image as the fun-loving land of the bunga bunga party but unreliable partner in Europe is under reconstruction — sparking cultural shifts at home.Premier Mario Monti, an economics professor who succeeded Silvio Berlusconi, is creating renewed confidence in Italy — […]

[credit provider=”AP”] MILAN (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi’s corruption trial ended Saturday with a court ruling that the statute of limitations had run out, handing the former premier another victory in a long string of judicial challenges.Berlusconi, who stepped down as premier in November as the sovereign debt crisis flared, was […]

Silvio Berlusconi can now add plagiarism to the long list of things he’s already been accused of.

[credit provider=”AP”] The most ridiculed political figure in Europe insists he is not inclined to dark nights of the soul. His eldest daughter calls him twice a day, the way his late mother used to.He has five children and six grandchildren and all the money in the world. He remains […]

[credit provider=”AP”] Despite some previous reports to the contrary, Silvio Berlusconi has said he will be “stepping aside” from front-line politics.The statement was made in an interview with the Financial Times, his first interview since resigning last November.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is a man most people love to hate. 

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons “] A broke, unemployed Italian couple dedicated their double suicide to ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.Salvatore De Salvo, 64, and his wife Antonia Azzolini, 69, killed themselves last week after losing their jobs and home of almost 50 years due to the financial crisis, the Daily Mirror reported.

[credit provider=”Wikimedia commons”] In an response to requests from an Italian MP, Prime Minister Mario Monti has given a delightfully detailed account of his New Year’s Eve dinner in an apparent bid to show just how austere he really is.The account of the soiree is posted (in Italian) on the […]

In his latest Dealbook column, Andrew Ross Sorkin salutes the year that was.

[credit provider=”Christopher Furlong/Getty Images”] 2011 was a busy year for the markets, even if they ended roughly where they started twelve months ago. News outlets are out with the top news of the year, and it all roughly reads the same: Europe was in crisis, MF Global went under, Steve […]

[credit provider=”siyanor.com”] There’s a movie in the works inspired by the sex scandal surrounding former IMF head Dominque Strauss-Kahn. This is according to an exclusive report by Deadline (via Drudge Report).Gerard Depardieu is being considered to play the lead.

Karima el Mahroug, the Moroccan dancer at the heart of Silvio Berlusconi’s trial for sex with an underage prostitute, has become a mother at the age of 19-years-old, reports the Telegraph.

[credit provider=”AP”] He has gone, but he’s not out.The atmosphere of Silvio Berlusconi’s departure from the post of prime minister on 12 November 2011 may have been characteristically undignified, as his route from his Palazzo Grazioli residence in Rome to the presidential palace echoed to onlookers’ jeers of “buffoon” and […]

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons”] Silvio Berlusconi, apparently a big fan of Facebook, has taken time out from his busy post-premier afternoon to upload quotes to the social network from a forthcoming interview with French Magazine “Paris Match”.In particular, he returns to one of our favourite Berlusconi-related moments of the fall, when […]

Silvio Berlusconi will return as president of AC Milan now that he’s resigned as prime minister of Italy.

Silvio Berlusconi may have some famous witnesses to call upon in his ongoing Milan sex trial, with reports in the BBC suggesting that actor George Clooney and soccer star Christiano Ronaldo among the list of potential defence witnesses.

British Craigslist users, if forced to buy a used car from a world leader, would most like to deal with Barack Obama, according to a new study from YouGov.

[credit provider=”AP”] AS HE FACES a series of trials on a range of charges, Silvio Berlusconi has insisted he has done “nothing wrong” – and has blamed the foreign press for his downfall.Berlusconi, 75, announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Italy earlier this month after losing his parliamentary majority.

[credit provider=”AP Images” url=”http://www.apimages.com/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=Silvio%20Berlusconi&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=10&kwstyle=and&adte=1320418862&pagez=60&cfasstyle=AND&rids=71c767f3d47b4fde878a726c50118f9a&dbm=PY2010&page=1&xslt=1&mediatype=Photo”] This is your hot weekend reading: Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has done an exit interview with newspaper Corriere.In it, he says that the new government, composed all of technocrats, has promised not to stand for re-election in 2013. He also says that the Mario Monti […]

Silvio, you sly dog.

[credit provider=”New York TImes Syndicate” url=”https://www.nytsyn.com/subscribed/cartoons”] We’ve got new cartoons from over the weekend, and what is lacking in quantity is made up for in quality.As per usual, hilarious takes on Occupy Wall Street are first up. Other topics the skeletons in Newt’s closet and the Eurozone crisis.

[credit provider=”AP Images” url=”http://www.apimages.com/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=Silvio%20Berlusconi&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=10&kwstyle=and&adte=1320418862&pagez=60&cfasstyle=AND&rids=71c767f3d47b4fde878a726c50118f9a&dbm=PY2010&page=1&xslt=1&mediatype=Photo”] Silvio Berlusconi finally left his Prime Ministerial office today as Mario Monti entered, replacing him as leader of Italy.It was obviously an emotional day for Silvio, who according to AFP reports, was seen taking home a ming vase, a sword from Kazakhstan, and three framed photos […]

Italian lingerie company Yamamay has bid Silvio Berlusconi a cheeky and somewhat appropriate farewell.

Patrizia D’Addario, one of Silvio Berlusconi‘s many (suspected) conquests, has come out in support of the former Italian premier.

[credit provider=”Wikimedia commons”] You know you messed up when the person who succeeds you is your exact opposite. This is exactly what happened to the tale of Silvio Berluscioni’s fall from grace only to find the quintessential un-Berlusconi figure waiting to take his place: Mario Monti will lead Italy in a […]

That’s apparently the scene in Italy.

[credit provider=”AP Images” url=”http://www.apimages.com/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=Silvio%20Berlusconi&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=10&kwstyle=and&adte=1320418862&pagez=60&cfasstyle=AND&rids=71c767f3d47b4fde878a726c50118f9a&dbm=PY2010&page=1&xslt=1&mediatype=Photo”] ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi prepared to resign Saturday after parliament’s lower chamber passed European-demanded reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis.A chorus of Handel’s “Alleluia,” performed by […]

[credit provider=”AP”] Over at the FT, Guy Dinmore has a thoughtful, interesting article on Silvio Berlusconi and his relationship with and influence on Italy.Perhaps the key takeaway is that it was ultimately the markets that forced Berlusconi out, rather than an electoral challenger. And perhaps because of that, there’s no […]

Here’s the story (and a slideshow of the magazine’s previous SB covers).

The Economist has brought us some priceless covers featuring outgoing Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi. (Remember “The Man Who Screwed An Entire Country”?)

[credit provider=”AP”] BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Italy on Tuesday to clear up quickly who will run the country, something that she said is key to restoring its credibility.Premier Silvio Berlusconi pledged earlier this week to quit but questions remain over the timing and what will happen […]

[credit provider=”en.wikipedia.org” url=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Picard_as_Locutus.jpg”] Politicians in Greece and Italy failed to do the job. Prime Ministers in both countries went down in flames. However, it has been a struggle to find anyone to replace them with. Politicians have been bickering over replacements ever since the leaders agreed to resign. The latest […]

Where the monstrous regiment of judges, journalists and the other toxic derivatives of Italian communism failed, the Germans and the French, armed this time only with the euro, have triumphed.

[credit provider=”AP”] Silvio Berlusconi has dominated Italian politics since 1994. If Italy is in bad shape, he’s the man to blame.This week he announced he will quit his role as Prime Minister.

On Monday night, Silvio Berlusconi  was facing what would turn out to be the toughest decision of his entire career. He decided he needed company.

We noted earlier how Italian stocks were higher in the wake of the Berlusconi resignation, but that’s over. Stocks are now tanking.

Today marks a fitting end for Berlusconi, going out with markets tumbling all around him.

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons” url=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EPP_Summit_June_2011_-_Silvio_Berlusconi_1.jpg”] The party isn’t too wild, but it’s decent.European markets are rallying as the world cheers the end of Silvio Berlusconi, who announced his intent to resign after the markets closed yesterday.