Berlusconi complains of "subversive" campaign

By Daniel Flynn and Antonella Cinelli
ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday he was the victim of an orchestrated campaign of "subversion" over his relationship with an 18-year-old model and his use of state planes.
The 72-year-old media tycoon, whose center-right party comfortably won last weekend's local and European elections, told a meeting of business leaders that the campaign was aimed at replacing him with someone who had not been chosen by voters.
Berlusconi, who owns three of Italy's seven national TV channels, also urged media not to give time to the leader of the opposition, who responded by denouncing intimidation.
"To topple a prime minister democratically elected with the vote of the Italians and replace him with someone un-elected: if that is not subversion, what is?" said Berlusconi, in the resort of Santa Margherita Ligure. He did not provide further details.
The campaign for the local and European elections, in which Berlusconi's People of Liberty fell short of the 45 percent he forecast, was dominated by Berlusconi's lifestyle after his wife demanded a divorce and accused him of "frequenting minors."
Berlusconi, who was forced to deny having sex with 18-year-old Noemi Letizia, found himself on the defensive over photos showing topless women sunbathing at his luxury villa in Sardinia and allegations he used state planes to fly in guests.
Previously, Berlusconi blamed a row with Rupert Murdoch over pay TV tax for prompting negative coverage from News Corp of the Letizia case. Murdoch has denied this.
He urged business leaders to be optimistic in the face of the slowdown -- the worst since World War II -- and told media not to focus on "pessimists."
"When I say don't give any publicity to the pessimists, I am referring especially to the leader of the opposition," he said.
The leader of Italy's opposition Democratic Party, Dario Franceschini, said these remarks were "intimidation."
"According to Berlusconi I should not appear in the newspapers because he doesn't like what I say," Franceschini said. "He has never frightened me and never will."
In a wide-ranging speech, Berlusconi vowed to complete construction of houses for thousands left homeless by April's earthquake in central Italy by the end of November.
He also promised to build new towns for young Italians, many of whom are forced to live with their parents due to the high cost of housing.
Emma Marcegaglia, head of the Confindustria business chamber, said optimism was not enough.
"Italy risks losing part of its production capacity: there's a risk companies will die," she told the conference after Berlusconi spoke. "We need 100 days of concrete, strong action. The government needs to change pace."
(Editing by Robert Woodward)

Source: Reuters