Marina Berlusconi on Wednesday denied
speculation that she might have had a hand in revelations about
Andrea Giambruno, the former partner of Premier Giorgia Meloni.
Last week Meloni announced she had separated from TV journalist
Giambruno, the father of her seven-year-old daughter Ginevra,
after satirical news programme Striscia la Notizia broadcast
sleazy comments made by him in off-air recordings.
Striscia la Notizia is screened by the Berlusconi family's
Mediaset network, as is the Retequattro show, Diario del Giorno
(Daily Diary), that Giambruno presented.
In the recordings, the journalist could be heard telling a woman
that "you have to f**k to get into our working group" and
referring to "threesomes and foursomes". He is also heard
apparently admitting to an affair with another female colleague.
Giambruno has stood down from presenting Diario del Giorno,
apologizing for the embarrassment caused, and faces disciplinary
proceedings before the Italian journalists guild.
"I have read and heard everything over the last few days,"
Marina Berlusconi, the president of the Berlusconi family
holding company Fininvest and the Mondadori publishing house,
told Rai journalist Bruno Vespa for his new book, "Il Rancore e
la Speranza" (Rancour and Hope).
"Completely made-up behind-the-scenes stories, reconstructions
of events that are totally devoid of logic and often
contradictory.
"The only thing that is true is I respect Giorgia Meloni a lot.
"I find her capable, coherent, concrete.
"I like her on the political level and I also like her a lot as
a woman, even more so over the last few days."
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