Weak communists and cute secretaries are Italy's main strengths: Berlusconi

AFP ^ | September 24, 2003

[Shermy]

ROME (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gave US businessmen the most compelling reasons he could think of to invest in his country: declining Communist support and beautiful secretaries.

"Italy is now a great country to invest in," Italian media quoted Berlusconi saying during a function in New York's Wall Street business district.

"The proof is that the prime minister himself has invested all his money in Italy."

With a personal fortune estimated at 5.5 billion dollars (4.8 billion euros) by Forbes magazine, Berlusconi is both Italy's richest man and its most controversial.

Berlusconi's Fininvest holding has major interests in television, banking, advertising and sport, while his pre-election promise of transparent new measures to prevent conflicts of interest between his two roles -- head of government and top business leader -- remains unfulfilled.

"Another reason to invest in Italy is that there are much fewer communists than before, down from 34 percent to 16 percent today," he said. "And those who still are deny it."

Then a chuckling Berlusconi delivered what he considered to be the clinching argument to end his sales pitch.

"We also have gorgeous secretaries, superb girls," he said.

[Shermy]

Berlusconi strikes again.

[LibWhacker]

We also have gorgeous secretaries

Pictures, please.

[xrp]

[LibWhacker]

I'll start.

I don't know if they're all Italian, but you've got to admit . . . :-)

(Can you spot the singer?)

[LibWhacker]

Never mind, you started. And a very nice start it is! :-)

[TopQuark]

Sometimes I wonder whether he has brains, but he certainly has a mouth. A really big one.

[Trailerpark Badass]

God, I love that guy!

[TADSLOS]

Jeesh! No wonder Italians can never get any work done!

[Paul C. Jesup]

You're mistaking young ABC (Channel) actresses with Italian women.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

That's Gisele Bundchen. Brazilian. Family is German though.

[rmlew]

J-A-I-L-B-A-I-T

[xrp]

whoops! I punched in "Hot Italian Women" into Google. Their fault!

[BostonianRightist]

Some of them look italian, i guess.

ps- i couldn't care less if any of them can sing.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

And China has strong communists, and are removing female secretaries, because they think that would be an improper role for women.

[BostonianRightist]

J-A-I-L-B-A-I-T A problem minors like myself doesn't have to worry about.

[Ronin]

Mama Mia!!!!

Thassa Nica!!!!

[LibWhacker]

Hey . . . any excuse to post pictures of gorgeous women!

[Bud Bundy]

One of the things I most admire about Italians: they tell it like it is.

[Paul C. Jesup]

But there is difference between gorgeous conservative women and gorgeouse socialist women.