Ruby Rubacuori, as she is known, was an underaged exotic dancer when she became entangled in Berlusconi's seedy 'sleepovers'.
The then Prime Minister made little secret of his doings. But things came to a head when word leaked out that Ruby, real name Karima al Mahroug, a minor, was receiving money for her favors. And even worse, the premier engaged in some police corruption by bailing out the dancer from prison by claiming she was the niece of Hosni Mubarak.
The scandal that ensued is now culminating in a trial in which the aging premier is accused of contributing to the corruption of a minor and other charges.
What is more interesting, is that the premier now is being defended by some, who call the trial an expedient to block him from running from office, since many assert that "he has done much worse things, why get him for this minor thing?" After all, he received nearly 33% in the latest elections, and the polls put him in the 37% in the proposed elections that would take place if the current effort to form a government fail.
But there is something unsettling about this statement. Italians have become so used to scandals, corruptions, minions parading in luxury cars, that a Prime Minister running a brothel, with minors, through his residence, is seen as a small crime.
Be as it may, that the ex prime minister has done worse things, the above is nothing to sneeze at.
But maybe that is an example of the subtle moral corrosion that Berlusconi has caused in Italy through 3 decades of programming in which women are seen as nothing more than meat, and who are good for only one thing. This kind of societal degradation has severe implications. For one, teenagers have almost no positive roles to admire in television any more, since almost all women in Italian television are half naked and look like exotic dancers or porn stars, and they are starting to act and dress as those television equivalent. But also, in so doing, these cultural shifts are wreaking havoc in ways that are subtle, but which have very great consequences. Men no longer respect women, there is a much higher degree of violence against women, and an intelligent discourse between a man and a woman is often cut off with the expression "you don't know what you're talking about".
Karima indeed appeared today, a shadow of her former self, in a setting that is as dark and somber as can be had. And there she stood, telling for the first time her side of the story about what went on in that huge villa the premier held his parties in.
However, she did say that she took part or was present during the 'bunga bunga' parties, but she insisted that no actual intercourse took place, and that the only 'sexual' activity was explicit dancing by scantily clad women. In addition she told that there was no money exchanged for sex, and that Berlusconi offered to 'help her' unsolicited, and gave her money just for her presence.
The premiere's followers are all crying foul, but oddly so are his detractors. They see this trial as a trifle, or worse as a set-up, because the man is going towards the sunset and someone has set his sight upon him, someone powerful, who wishes to dislodge the 'teflon' prime minister. And in truth, Berlusconi has passed enough laws to protect himself from most of the crimes he has committed.
So the smart money is on his absolution from the Ruby trial. But if not now, when? When will one of the most reviled characters in Italian politics meet his punishment? When will the man who has brought Italy to the brink of financial destruction meet his destiny? From the looks of it, he will walk to his sunset with his horse and a saddle full of money.
Op-ed
Partial Source : Ansa. it
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