Berlusconi takes revenge from ‘backstabbing’ daughter

LONDON - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was said to have settled scores with one of his daughters who criticise him in an interview amid reports linking him to infidelity.

The 73-year-old politician snubbed Barbara from a job that the billionaire had allegedly promised her in the family publishing giant Mondadori.

Barbara, his 25-year-old daughter from second wife, incurred her father’s wrath by commenting about his alleged association with lingerie model Noemi Letizia, saying “I don’t think a politician can allow himself to make a difference between his private and public life.”

At the time, Berlusconi said: “What bitterness. Nobody had warned me. A real bolt from the blue.”

And now Berlusconi seemed to have taken revenge after announcing that Marina, his daughter by his first marriage, who heads both Mondadori and the Fininvest financial holding company, would take the top job.

“Mondadori has for many years been entrusted to Marina who, with her managers, has been running it very, very, very well. And she will continue to do so,” Times Online quoted Berlusconi as saying.

As for Barbara, he added: “She’s a very intelligent girl. She’ll have the chance to choose so many other paths in a group as wide-ranging as mine is.”

Barbara’s friends claimed she was “a bit surprised but above all bitter” at her father’s decision. (ANI)