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| Berlusconi apologises to his wife | Berlusconi apologises to his wife |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said sorry to his wife for flirting with other women after she demanded a public apology. | Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said sorry to his wife for flirting with other women after she demanded a public apology. |
| Mr Berlusconi issued a written statement, referring to the constant pressure he was under from work, trips, politics and problems. | Mr Berlusconi issued a written statement, referring to the constant pressure he was under from work, trips, politics and problems. |
| Veronica Berlusconi, his second wife, said his flirting damaged her dignity. | |
| She had demanded the apology in a front-page letter to the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica. | She had demanded the apology in a front-page letter to the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica. |
| In the statement, issued via his Forza Italia party, Mr Berlusconi said: "Forgive me, I beg you. And take this public show of my private pride giving in to your fury as an act of love. One of many." | In the statement, issued via his Forza Italia party, Mr Berlusconi said: "Forgive me, I beg you. And take this public show of my private pride giving in to your fury as an act of love. One of many." |
| "Your dignity has nothing to do with it, I treasure it as a precious good in my heart, even when I make carefree jokes," said Mr Berlusconi, 70. | "Your dignity has nothing to do with it, I treasure it as a precious good in my heart, even when I make carefree jokes," said Mr Berlusconi, 70. |
| Flirtatious comments | Flirtatious comments |
| Veronica Berlusconi is mother of three of Mr Berlusconi's children. | |
| She said her husband had told some women at a TV awards dinner: "If I wasn't already married I would marry you right away". | She said her husband had told some women at a TV awards dinner: "If I wasn't already married I would marry you right away". |
| Mr Berlusconi was quoted as telling another woman: "With you I'd go anywhere". | Mr Berlusconi was quoted as telling another woman: "With you I'd go anywhere". |
| Commentators say the fact she chose for her complaint a prominent left-wing publication - traditionally critical of Mr Berlusconi - would have added to her husband's embarrassment. | Commentators say the fact she chose for her complaint a prominent left-wing publication - traditionally critical of Mr Berlusconi - would have added to her husband's embarrassment. |
| "Today for my female children, already adults, the example of a woman defending her own dignity in her relationships with men takes on a particularly significant importance," she said. | "Today for my female children, already adults, the example of a woman defending her own dignity in her relationships with men takes on a particularly significant importance," she said. |
| Confronting her husband over his behaviour would also remind her son Luigi "to never forgot to keep among his fundamental values respect for women," she added. | Confronting her husband over his behaviour would also remind her son Luigi "to never forgot to keep among his fundamental values respect for women," she added. |