Sex scandal returns to haunt Berlusconi

A two-year-old sex scandal came back to haunt Silvio Berlusconi on 1 September 2011 when police arrested a businessman and his wife on suspicion of extorting more than €500,000 from Italy’s prime minister in exchange for keeping quiet over prostitutes supplied for his private parties.

Although the 74-year-old billionaire prime minister was not believed to be under investigation in connection with the case, the resurfacing of an old scandal that dominated Italian headlines in 2009 came at a critical moment for Mr Berlusconi. He was struggling to impose his authority on his disparate coalition and make the case to the nation for a harsh austerity budget.

Corriere della Sera, 1.9.11: Tarantini Arrested for Blackmailing Berlusconi http://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2011/09/02/tarantini-arrested.shtml

Deutsche Welle, 2.9.11: Couple arrested on charges of extorting Italian premier Berlusconi http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15360050,00.html

ESO: Background information: Outcry over Berlusconi budget reversal http://www.europeansources.info/record/outcry-over-berlusconi-budget-reversal-italy-near-to-completing-austerity-deal/

ESO: Background information: Berlusconi resists calls to quit over sex scandal http://www.europeansources.info/record/berlusconi-resists-calls-to-quit-over-sex-scandal/

BBC News, 1.9.11: Italian businessman arrested over Berlusconi blackmail http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14751432

Corriere della Sera, 5.9.11: Magistrate Challenges Cash Payments to Tarantini http://www.corriere.it/english/11_settembre_05/tarantini-investigation-cash_66529eb2-d7af-11e0-af53-ed2d7e3d9e5d.shtml

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