Italian Premier ‘no saint’ in first comment on sex scandal

ITALIAN Premier Silvio Berlusconi joked that he is “no saint“, in his first comments on his sex scandal since a news weekly released what it said were conversations between him and a prostitute.

Berlusconi has been entangled in scandal for months over his alleged encounters with young women, but it took on new life this week when L’Espresso released the tapes of the purported conversations at the premier’s Rome residence in November.

Berlusconi’s lawyer has disputed the tapes’ veracity.

“I’m no saint, by now you’ve figured that out,” a smiling Berlusconi told an audience of business executives and politicians in northern Italy.

“Let’s hope that those working at Repubblica understand that, too,” he added, taking a jab at the left-leaning daily that has doggedly pursued the scandal story. Both La Repubblica and L’Espresso are owned by the same publishing group.

Berlusconi, 72 has denied he paid anyone for sex, and has called the allegations “trash” meant to smear him. Last month, a defiant Berlusconi said “that’s who I am” and that is how Italians want him.

The scandal has done little to dent his popularity at home.