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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Berlusconi's wife to divorce him | Berlusconi's wife to divorce him |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The wife of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that she will file for divorce. | The wife of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that she will file for divorce. |
| Veronica Lario reportedly said she could not be with a man who "consorted with minors" after her husband attended a female friend's 18th birthday party. | Veronica Lario reportedly said she could not be with a man who "consorted with minors" after her husband attended a female friend's 18th birthday party. |
| Ms Lario had also clashed publicly with her husband over his party's plan to choose certain female candidates for the European elections. | Ms Lario had also clashed publicly with her husband over his party's plan to choose certain female candidates for the European elections. |
| The 72-year-old billionaire prime minister has not commented. | The 72-year-old billionaire prime minister has not commented. |
| Ms Lario is Mr Berlusconi's second wife and a former actress. The couple have three children from their 19-year marriage, all in their 20s. | Ms Lario is Mr Berlusconi's second wife and a former actress. The couple have three children from their 19-year marriage, all in their 20s. |
| 'Shameless rubbish' | 'Shameless rubbish' |
| La Repubblica, a leading Italian newspaper, said Ms Lario's decision came after reading about the 18th birthday party in Naples. | La Repubblica, a leading Italian newspaper, said Ms Lario's decision came after reading about the 18th birthday party in Naples. |
| "That's enough, I cannot remain with a man who consorts with minors", she was quoted as saying. | "That's enough, I cannot remain with a man who consorts with minors", she was quoted as saying. |
| Another newspaper, La Stampa, quoted Ms Lario as saying she had been "forced to take this step". | Another newspaper, La Stampa, quoted Ms Lario as saying she had been "forced to take this step". |
| What's happening today [in Italy] behind a front of bodily curves and female beauty is grave Veronica Lario | |
| "This really surprised me, because he never came to any 18th birthday party for his children, despite being invited," the paper quoted her as saying earlier. | |
| Mr Berlusconi was reported to have brought the woman a golden necklace studded with diamonds as a present. | |
| Following his wife's reaction, Mr Berlusconi was quoted as saying he was sorry his wife "had let herself be fooled by left-wing newspapers". | |
| Relations with her husband were already said to be frayed after Ms Lario had criticised her husband's choice of young and attractive female candidates with little political experience to represent his Freedom Party in the forthcoming European elections. | Relations with her husband were already said to be frayed after Ms Lario had criticised her husband's choice of young and attractive female candidates with little political experience to represent his Freedom Party in the forthcoming European elections. |
| In an e-mail to an Italian news agency, she said the plan amounted to "shameless rubbish" being put on "for the entertainment of the emperor". | In an e-mail to an Italian news agency, she said the plan amounted to "shameless rubbish" being put on "for the entertainment of the emperor". |
| "What's happening today [in Italy] behind a front of bodily curves and female beauty is grave," she wrote. | |
| Flirting | |
| Mr Berlusconi said his centre-right party was aiming to select female candidates because "we want to renew our political class with people who are cultured and well prepared". | |
| Candidates standing for the party would be unlike the "malodorous and badly dressed people who represent certain parties in parliament", Mr Berlusconi added. | Candidates standing for the party would be unlike the "malodorous and badly dressed people who represent certain parties in parliament", Mr Berlusconi added. |
| SILVIO BERLUSCONI Won third term as prime minister in 2008Fought off a series of corruption and fraud chargesPrivate fortune estimated at $6.5bn (£4.4bn)Owner of AC Milan football club | |
| It was later announced that Barbara Matera - an actress, TV announcer and former Miss Italy contestant - was the only one of the candidates to have made the final list. | |
| Mr Berlusconi has not commented on the divorce reports. His lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, said it was a "strictly personal matter". | Mr Berlusconi has not commented on the divorce reports. His lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, said it was a "strictly personal matter". |
| Mr Berlusconi courted Ms Lario in 1980 after watching her perform topless in a play. They married ten years later. | |
| Two years ago he issued a public apology to his wife for flirting with young starlets, among them Mara Carfagna, who he later appointed as equal opportunities minister. | |
| She said her husband had told the women: "If I wasn't already married I would marry you right away". | |
| In 2003 Berlusconi acknowledged during a press conference rumours linking his wife to a left-wing philosophy professor and mayor, Massimo Cacciari. | |
| Ms Lario has occasionally taken political positions at odds with her husband's, such as her backing for protesters demonstrating against the war in Iraq, which Mr Berlusconi supported. | |
| Mr Berlusconi has two elder children from a previous marriage who now hold senior positions in his media empire. | |
| The Italian prime minister's private fortune is estimated by Forbes magazine at $6.5bn (£4.4bn). |