Berlusconi praised despite quake gaffe

Updated on: 10 April,2009 09:25 AM IST |
Agencies |

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's energetic response to Monday's earthquake has been generally praised despite his comparison of the ordeal of survivors staying in emergency tents to a camping weekend.

Berlusconi has visited the town of L'Aquila, the epicentre of the 6.3-magnitude quake, every day this week, talking to survivors and pledging government help to rebuild houses. He scrapped a visit to Russia that was planned for this week.

The PM has even been greeted with applause on occasions, according to a reporter Paula Newton, who interviewed him on Wednesday.

"In general he thrives on these events and politically it will probably give him a boost, if only temporarily."

However, she added that his visit to a dormitory where students were buried under rubble had upset some of the parents and relatives. "They were kept well back and he did not meet with them," she said.u00a0

"One relative, in obvious anger, asked another 'why is he here?' and another replied "he's taking care of elections, of course."

Foot in mouth

And true to form Berlusconi has been unable to avoid putting his foot in it. During a visit to one tent village where thousands who had lost their houses were staying, Berlusconi told German television "they should see it like a weekend of camping".

The trademark gaffe sparked predictable outrage. "He is a completely insensitive man who thinks wisecracks can solve every problem," said Rina Gagliardi, a former senator of the Refoundation Communist Party.

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