Berlusconi: 'almost a German'

BBC News Online ^ | August 04 2003

[knighthawk]

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has made a fresh attempt to settle the row which followed his "Nazi" slur on a German politician. Mr Berlusconi told the mass circulation German newspaper Bild in an interview published on Monday that his reputation as a workaholic meant that he was considered "almost German" himself.

The prime minister had caused controversy by likening a heckling German European Parliament member to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

The row deepened when a junior minister described German tourists as "hyper-nationalistic blondes", leading German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to cancel a holiday to Italy.

The diplomatic fallout from the comments tarnished the start of Italy's presidency of the European Union.

But Mr Berlusconi said in the interview that he and Mr Schroeder had "done everything" to limit damage from the incident in the European Parliament.

Classical education

He said that Mr Schroeder was "always welcome" and that the relationship between the two countries could not be better.

He added that he shared some traditional German virtues.

"In Italy I am almost seen as a German for my workaholism, also because I am from Milan, the city where people work the hardest," he said.

"Work, work, work - I am almost a German."

There has been no response so far from the German Government to the comments.

Mr Berlusconi also mentioned his love for German culture stemming from his classical education.

"Of course for me Goethe is the master of German poetry," he said.

"And I naturally treasure all German philosophers from Kant to Nietzsche."

Bild led a vigorous German media fight-back against the comments by Mr Berlusconi and his tourism minister, Stefano Stefani, who subsequently resigned from office.

[knighthawk]

"Work, work, work - I am almost a German"

Silvio Berlusconi

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[dfwgator]

Obviously Silvio hasn't seen the recent unemployment figures for Germany.

[William McKinley]

Ya know, if I were being demonized by the left as some sort of fascist or nazi, I probably would not counter it by calling myself 'almost a German'.

[Spirited]

Thanks for the ping.

[decimon]

Mr Berlusconi told the mass circulation German newspaper Bild in an interview published on Monday that his reputation as a workaholic meant that he was considered "almost German" himself.

Nothing like employing an ethnic stereotype to heal an ethnic rift.

[xm177e2]

Nothing like employing an ethnic stereotype to heal an ethnic rift.

At least this time it's a positive stereotype.

[xm177e2]

And it should be noted that Germany does have its own distinct culture. Talking about that culture is not the same as "employing an ethnic stereotype." He didn't say all Germans were workaholics, he said he fit in with German culture. That is not a big deal at all.

[decimon]

And it should be noted that Germany does have its own distinct culture.

I suppose, but I've heard that Germans, not unlike Italians, are German to outsiders and something regional to each other. I have both in my tree so I'm not talking out of woodpile here.