Thursday 8 October 2009

Now this is proper sleaze

Our politicians (in Britain and Ireland) are often shallow, careerist, greedy, arrogant and sometimes corrupt. However, it's sometimes instructive to look elsewhere for comparison, and a couple of stories provide the opportunity to do just that.

Over in Italy, the Prime Minister owns most of the TV, radio and print media, and controls the state channels. He's been accused of consorting with prostitutes, very young girls, evading taxes, dealing with extremely shady elements, and a British government minister's husband has been convicted of accepting a bribe to lie for him. He also thinks it's hilarious to joke that Obama has a 'good tan'. Now his immunity from prosecution while prime minister (a law he passed to protect himself) has been declared unconstitutional, and he's very upset…

Meanwhile in France, the Minister for Culture's autobiography reveals that he was in the habit of paying Thai 'boy' prostitutes a few years ago…

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