Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has angered the country’s gay community by stating that “it’s better to be passionate about beautiful girls than be gay”.
Berlusconi, who is facing questions about his relationship with a young woman, made the comment at a motorcycle exhibition in Milan.
“I work extremely hard and if every now and then I look at the face of a beautiful girl then it’s better to be passionate about beautiful girls than gay,” he told the crowd, who reacted with laughter.
An 18 year old belly dancer has been linked to Berlusconi (74) who, it has been reported, allowed her to spend the night at his home and gave her cash. Karima Keyek was 17 at the time of the incident.
Keyek has insisted that nothing untoward happened, but it’s also been claimed that he intervened with police and had her released after she was arrested for stealing money from a friend.
Berlusconi’s third wife, Veronica Lario, filed for divorce in May after ongoing allegations that he was involved with younger women, saying that she “cannot remain with a man who consorts with minors”.
