Silvio Berlusconi's daughter: 'I don't think my dad warrants some of the treatment he gets'

Barbara Berlusconi has spoken out about the sex scandals surrounding her father Silvio, Italy's PM

Controversial Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's daughter has spoken of her bitterness at the sex scandals that her father has been embroiled in.
Barbara, 26, also added that at times she felt she was 'not in tune with the thoughts and political actions' of her father but it did not mean she 'loved him any less'.
Berlusconi, 74, has been involved in series of sleazy sex scandals since April last year starting with his questionable relationship with 18-year-old lingerie model Naomi Letizia.
It then emerged high class escorts had been among guests invited to parties he hosted at his official residence, with one even claiming she was paid to spend the night with him.
Then last month he was linked to Moroccan belly dancer Karima El Mahroug, 18, who was also a guest at a party he hosted and who spoke of his 'bunga bunga' parties - a reference to an after-dinner sex game.
Then just days later another escort Nadia Macri, 28, came forward to say that she had been paid 10,000 Euro to have sex with Berlusconi on two occasions - a claim he had denied.
Barbara told Italian Vanity Fair magazine: 'I have for him (Berlusconi) and his multiple successes, great admiration but I reserve the right to have an intellectual approach to his life.
'These episodes (sex scandals) have left me bitter. I find it hard to find an answer for them. It's obvious that I don't agree with a certain type of behaviour but I have to try and believe my father.'
She added: 'Some time I have found myself not being in tune with the thoughts and political actions of Silvio Berlusconi, that doesn't make me a bad daughter and I don't love my father less because of this.'

 

However Barbara did admit she thought the 'weaknesses' as her father called the scandals affected him and said: 'They affected him in his private life and his political life.
'What upsets me sometimes is that sometimes I don't think Silvio Berlusconi warrants some of the treatment he gets. He has done a lot and he has done good for the country, with passion and pride.
'Many things could have been avoided if he had neglected the fact that we are all vulnerable. Certain types of behaviour make things even more fragile.
'It would be a shame if his extraordinary political career would be remembered only for this.'

Relaxing on a beach holiday earlier this year before the scandals about her father broke out

When asked what she thought of the idea of comparing her father to a pop star Barbara replied: 'I think that's an appropriate comparison because he gets to the heart and mind of people because he speaks their language.
'He is a conqueror and in the end even his critics are bewitched. He has an impressive spontaneity and he can feel at home with other people.'
Barbara, who is the oldest of Berlusconi's three children with his second wife Veronica Lario, 52, also denied that she her siblings Eleonara, 24, and Luigi, 22, were the objects of a dispute over the future of Berlusconi's business empire.
There have been reports that Veronica is demanding a bigger share of Berlusconi's Fininvest company as part of their divorce settlement and she is angry that his two children from his first marriage have a larger share.
Barbara said: 'We have never been objects of discussion over my father's patrimony or what roles we should have with the firm. We have never taken a part in the personal business of my parents that is a matter for them.'
It is not the first time that Barbara has spoken to Vanity Fair about her father last year in an interview she said: 'Politicians need to safeguard the values they represent and even better them.'

Silvio Berlusconi is seen 'resting his eyelids' during a speech by  President Giorgio Napolitano at a Christmas ceremony at his official residence Palazzo del Quirinale

His mouth is also given a rest but then he wakes and realises he's on camera

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