Berlusconi Adding Hookers To Scandal Mix

There's more agita for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Currently embroiled in controversy over his relationship with a buxom teenage model, the scandal-plagued premier is now facing accusations that some of his associates recruited young women to attend his private parties, and that Berlusconi had relations with one of the "paid escorts." Three women have come forward with details involving Berlusconi's assignation with Patrizia D'Addario, who was allegedly promised 2000 euros (about $2777) to, um, minister to the Prime Minister. As with every story about Berlusconi, it's the small details that are worth savoring.

• "D'Addario, 42, went public last week about the dinner, claiming she was offered €2,000 to spend the night at Berlusconi's residence but complaining that the prime minister had failed to make good on promises to help her obtain building permits for a planned hotel." Berlusconi, who made his first fortune from shady real estate deals, should have known better than anyone that you don't fuck someone on a building transaction, particularly in Italy.

• D'Addario-who claims to be a former assistant to magician David Copperfield-told prosecutors about her evening with Berlusconi: "'Go and wait for me in the big bed,' the prime minister allegedly said, telling her he was going to take a shower. While he was away she claims to have used her mobile phone to film herself in the room, which contained a framed photograph of Mr Berlusconi's wife, Veronica Lario. This was six months before she accused him of 'consorting with minors' and said she wanted a divorce."

• One woman claimed that "were driven to Mr Berlusconi's home, Palazzo Grazioli, in a car with tinted windows, arriving there around 11pm. They were greeted by Mr Berlusconi, who is said to have told Miss D'Addario: 'I'm happy to see you again.' She claimed he was wearing a large amount of orange make-up."

The obvious question is whether Berlusconi can survive. Thus far there seems to have been no scandal too large to have kept him down, and with the Italian left unable to put forth any credible semblance of opposition, it would be up to Berlusconi's own allies to defenestrate him, an unlikely possibility as many of them owe their positions his patronage and support. Berlusconi is at this point a prisoner of his office: He needs to stay in power to keep from going to jail. It's too soon to tell whether consorting with prostitutes will be the final straw that makes Italians demand a better government-even the Catholic Church seems to be losing patience-but, as much as I disapprove of Berlusconi, I would urge caution: Getting rid of a guy because he fucked a bunch of hookers sometimes results in unfortunate consequences.