Berlusconi wife shames him for ‘trashy’ models idea — by email

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's plan to put forward female models and TV stars as prospective MEPs today incurred the wrath of his wife.

Veronica Lario, 52, sent an email to Italy's national news agency ANSA, saying the idea was "shameless trash" and was "in the name of power".

Mr Berlusconi revealed that for June's European elections he wanted "youthful new faces" and named four female stars with no political experience — soap actress Camilla Ferranti, 30, TV star Eleonora Gaggiolo, 29, ex-Big Brother contestant Angela Sozio, 31, and former Miss Italy candidate Barbera Matera, 28.

In her email Ms Lario wrote: "Someone wrote that all this is to sustain the enjoyment of the Emperor. I agree with this."

Today Mr Berlusconi did not comment directly on his wife's outburst but said: "I don't see what the problem is if a candidate has a degree and can speak two or three languages. Just because she has been on TV why should she be excluded from politics?"

It is the second time Ms Lario has made a statement on her husband. Two years ago she demanded — and got — a public apology after he told one actress he would marry her if he wasn't already married and told another he would run away with her.