Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi last month strengthened his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin gave Berlusconi 20 bottles of vodka and a “sweet letter” for his 86th birthday, in return for bottles of wine with an “equally sweet letter”. The Italian politician, as leader of Forza Italia part of Giorgia Meloni’s upcoming right-wing coalition government, is having a hard time with Italy’s military support for Ukraine, he assured Putin.
All that is evident an audio tape leaked on Tuesday, which is now owned by the Italian news agency LaPresse. In the audio tape, Berlusconi emphasizes that he cannot freely say what he really thinks about the war in Ukraine. “If the media found out about that, it would be a disaster.”
Berlusconi’s statements put even further strain on an already troubled relationship between him and Meloni, while portfolio negotiations are in full swing. Last week, the two right-wing politicians were still arguing after Berlusconi wrote in a note in the Italian Senate that Meloni is “biased, arrogant and abusive”. Berlusconi demands important ministerial posts — in addition to Foreign Affairs, he also wants his own people in Justice, but Meloni has doubts about that.
Meloni and Berlusconi also seem to have different views on the war in Ukraine. Shortly after her election win in September, Meloni promised the Ukrainian people the “loyal support of the new Italian government”. She supports Western sanctions on Russia and has condemned the invasion. In the audio tape, Berlusconi said he was “deeply concerned” about the role of the Italians in the war. For the time being, Italy has shown solidarity with Ukraine.