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Posted on 07/02/2003 11:09:06 AM PDT by The KG9 Kid
By CONSTANT BRAND, Associated Press Writer
BRUSSELS, Belgium - His country now leading the European Union (news - web sites), Italy's Silvio Berlusconi provoked an uproar Wednesday at the EU parliament by telling a German lawmaker he should star as a Nazi concentration camp guard in a movie.
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Berlusconi's remark confirmed some critics' fears that the Italian president was not fit to be the international face of Europe. Italy's richest man has been dogged by legal problems and accused of having conflicts of interest arising from his vast media holdings.
Some also question his commitment to EU platforms.
During a question-and-answer session following his speech, German socialist lawmaker Martin Schulz referred to Berlusconi's use of an Italian immunity law to sidestep bribery charges in a Milan court.
"In Italy, they are making a movie on Nazi concentration camps," Berlusconi snapped back. "I will propose you for the role of capo," or chief.
That prompted a rebuke from the president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, who suspended the session after Berlusconi refused to withdraw his comment, saying it was meant as an "ironic joke."
Schulz said the remark showed Berlusconi was unfit to represent Europe.
Berlusconi's words "debase the presidency of the (EU) council and offend Europe," said Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrat group in the European Parliament.
Schulz and Cox demanded an apology, but Berlusconi did not offer one.
Cox then closed the parliamentary debate, saying, "I regret the offense caused to a respected member, my colleague Mr. Schulz. It would be appropriate to correct the record in this regard. The debate is now closed."
During a news conference, Berlusconi again refused to apologize, insisting his Nazi comment was meant as a joke inspired by the German legislator's "tone and gestures."
"My joke wasn't meant to be offensive," Berlusconi said. "It was an ironic joke, perhaps the translation wasn't done in an ironic sense."
Berlusconi appeared before the parliament in Strasbourg, France, to outline his government's plans for the EU's six-month rotating presidency. Berlusconi will play a high-profile role in European and international politics, chairing major EU meetings, conferring with President Bush (news - web sites) and other global leaders and leading EU diplomacy concerning the Middle East, North Korea (news - web sites) and relations with Russia.
Berlusconi said boosting the EU's role on the world stage would only work if the bloc renewed ties with Washington.
However, attention quickly focused on Berlusconi's wheeler-dealer image and allegations by critics he is unfit to represent Europe.
On Monday, a Milan court suspended Berlusconi's trial for allegedly bribing Italian judges in the 1980s, years before he went into politics, to sway a ruling in the sale of state-held food conglomerate SME. The billionaire media mogul has denied the charges.
The trial was halted after the Italian Parliament last month adopted legislation granting legal immunity to top officials.
As Berlusconi rose to address the 626-member European Parliament, seven Green party members held up placards saying "everybody is equal under the law."
Berlusconi responded: "If this is your idea of democracy, you ought to visit Italy as tourists. You are behaving as tourists."
Berlusconi also pledged that his government would complete negotiations on the first constitution for an expanded EU and would combat illegal immigration. The bloc grows from 15 to 25 members next year.
"The Italian presidency will do all in its power ... to take responsible decisions on our future," Berlusconi said. "There is a great deal of moral and intellectual responsibility on our shoulders."
Even before the concentration camp remark, the debate focused as much on Berlusconi's personal suitability for the EU's top job as on his presidential agenda.
Green leader Monica Frassoni likened Berlusconi to Attila the Hun, whose barbarian hordes ravished Europe in the 5th century without regard for the law.
"Many people have been worried at your arrival, as an 'Attila of the Union,'" Frassoni said. "Political power, I'm afraid, leads to temptations to be above the law."
Berlusconi is Italy's richest man. He controls a $7.8 billion media empire that includes the nation's largest private television broadcaster, Mediaset.
Together with state-run RAI, he controls about 90 percent of Italy's television market, leading critics to charge he has too much influence over information that can be use for political and personal gains.
I guess Berlusconi didn't get the memo. The Nazis never existed, there is no such thing, it's a fairy tale, Europe is and always has been the paragon of peace and morality.
Really, what does Schulz know anyway.
"In Italy, they are making a movie on Nazi concentration camps," Berlusconi snapped back. "I will propose you for the role of capo," or chief.
In other words, Berlusconi will not be lectured on morality by a German totalitarian.
I need no sense of irony to appreciate that remark.
Bravo!
Exactly. Berlusconi was probably right on!! Schultz may very well be a perfect man to play a Nazi. LOL
Go get 'em Berlusconi!!!
Bwhahaahhaahhahahahhahahahah
So the Green wench can call him Attila the Hun, but he can't say someone should portray a Nazi in a movie...
Hmmm. I sense a bit of double standard here.
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