Berlusconi plays practical joke on German Chancellor by jumping out at her and shouting 'cuckoo'

 

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 9:32 PM on 18th November 2008

 

 

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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been slammed by media in his home country after leaping out from behind a monument and shouting 'cuckoo' during a summit in Trieste to discuss the economic crisis.

Slipping away from the welcoming committee, the Italian leader hid behind the monument like a giggling schoolboy, and then leapt out as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel marched past after climbing out of her official car to enter the building where they were to meet.

The 72-year-old Italian leader has a history of practical jokes, like holding up two fingers behind the head of a Spanish minister in the sign of a cuckold at a summit.

 

Enlarge He's behind you: Silvio Berlusconi (left) calls out to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (second right) during the review of the Guard of Honour in Trieste, Italy

 

...But it's all okay: Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi greet each other warmly following the joke

He is also prone to gaffes, such as when he boasted of using his 'playboy' tactics on Finland's woman president or, more recently, praised U.S. President-elect Barack Obama for being 'handsome, young and also suntanned'.

 

All forgotten: Silvio Berlusconi and Angela Merkel shake hands during the Italy-German summit

Prime gaffe: Silvio 'praised' U.S. President-elect Barack Obama for being 'handsome, young and also suntanned'

 

Carla Bruni Sarkozy, the Italian-born wife of President Sarkozy of France, said that the remark and the furore it caused had made her 'happy to be no longer an Italian citizen'.

The Italian Prime Minister was also taken to task by opposition leaders, who said that he had embarrassed Italy in the eyes of the world. He replied that those who criticised him for the remark were 'imbeciles' with no sense of humour.

Media in Italy such as La Repubblica newspaper that is not part of the Italian leader's media network said he had brought the country into disrepute again just to put himself in the spotlight.

Berlusconi, who has been fitted with a heart pacemaker, said the stunt was just a bit of harmless fun.

His latest prank appeared to have gone down better with Merkel than U.S. President George W. Bush's attempt in 2006 to massage her neck at a summit. Merkel raised her shoulders in surprise and the video became a hit on the Internet.

Why must it all be so SERIOUS ;-;

Mamma mia!! 'Il Cavalieri' is quite a character...

I love this guy. Plus he's a billionaire, which is pretty cool in its own right.

what is going on about Merkel and other european Prime Ministers of the Mediterranean :thinking:

 

some comediants here said something about Merkel and Sarkozy, now Berlusconi.... :uhoh:

 

i wonder now what will happen between her an our PM :P

what is going on about Merkel and other european Prime Ministers of the Mediterranean :thinking:

 

some comediants here said something about Merkel and Sarkozy, now Berlusconi.... :uhoh:

 

i wonder now what will happen between her an our PM :P

Hahaha I want to see that xD

*Wishes we had Berlusconi instead of Lord Brown as our leader*

Hahaha I want to see that xD

it would be curious, if my memory is not wrong he said something that "she's a loser" when she was the candidate for PM :uhoh:

 

btw there are not more PM who are women in EU? :thinking:

He is also prone to gaffes, such as when he boasted of using his 'playboy' tactics on Finland's woman president or, more recently, praised U.S. President-elect Barack Obama for being 'handsome, young and also suntanned'.

 

Hahah :laugh3: yeah I remember that...

 

Or when he was with Putin in a news conference and a woman reporter asked Putin about some attempts against the public opinion in Russia in which the high goverment could be involved, Putin showed a really unconfortable face and then Berlusconi made a shoot sign to the woman reporter and winking with with an evilish face to Putin. Like... I kill her, no prob. They both laughed.

 

:rolleyes:

it would be curious, if my memory is not wrong he said something that "she's a loser" when she was the candidate for PM :uhoh:

 

btw there are not more PM who are women in EU? :thinking:

Yes, I remember that... Poor Angela Merkel...

 

When she is reunited with some European politicians, must think:

 

'Well, what's the next weird thing, guys...? Surprise me... :dozey:'