Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi May Have to Perform Community Service

Silvio Berlusconi in his younger days,
when he was a cruise ship entertainer.

Classists such as Elizabeth Gilbert often project the idea that Italy is brimming with enlightened citizens who understand how to live well. This naive notion runs aground against Italian reality. Not so long ago, the boorish zillionaire Silvio Berlusconi was elected -- and re-elected -- to the Italian senate and became Italia's prime minister. Echoing the proclivities of Roman emperors, Berlusconi held "bunga bunga" parties that included hookers for his sexual satisfaction as well as for the pleasure of his political cronies.

According to a BBC report, the former PM is being investigated for witness tampering in a prostitution trial. Berlusconi, who was convicted last year of having paid sex with an underage woman, is not sweating the details. He's surviving in style on a northern Italian health farm with his young fiancee and presumably younger dog. Meanwhile, Berlusconi faces a four-year sentence for his illegal act. Given his age (77), he's unlikely to do time. However, the BBC story notes Italy's former numero uno may have to perform community service.

For someone equipped with Berlusconi's arrogance, the sentence seems to fit the crime.