Outcry at Berlusconi’s vulgar name calling

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi dismissed opposition calls to resign yesterday after his latest gaffe stirred up a mix of outrage and exasperation.

In response, Mr Berlusconi, under pressure over a variety of corruption and sex scandals and facing criticism over his centre-right government’s handling of the economic crisis, accused the left-wing opposition of “obsessively” seeking to drive him from office.

His comments came as newspapers and opposition parties lambasted him over his latest verbal excess, a suggestion that his ruling PDL (People’s Freedom Party) rename itself with a slang term for female genitalia.

“It is a demand I consider absurd, which would only create instability and which would open up new room for financial speculation,” he told party supporters.

The joking remark, to a group of party deputies in parliament on Thursday, drew severe criticism from the opposition which said it underlined Mr Berlusconi’s contempt for women.

“His misogynist jokes are offensive to women, who are considered less and less as people and ever more as ‘goods’ to be sold to the highest bidder,” Giuliano Carlino, a senator from the opposition Italy of Values party said.