Self-made Latin lothario counts the cost of one indulgence too many

SILVIO BERLUSCONI dominated Italy for 17 years with a unique mix of political talent and brazen behaviour but in the end it was market pressure from abroad that brought him down.

Berlusconi confirmed last night that he would stand down after a new budget law is approved in parliament.

Bolstered by unrivalled communication skills and a dominance of Italian media, for years Berlusconi seemed immune to a series of controversies that would have destroyed a politician in most other parts of the world.