Berlusconi, 83, gives 34-year-old lover the elbow – for an even younger blonde!
THEY had been together for 12 years despite the half-century age gap. But now Silvio Berlusconi, 83, has dumped his girlfriend Francesca Pascale, 34, for an even younger blonde.
The scandal-hit former Italian prime minister made the announcement after he was photographed leaving a Swiss hotel with Marta Fascina, 30, who is an MP in his Right-wing Forza Italia party.
Billionaire Mr Berlusconi said he ‘remained friends’ with former shop assistant Miss Pascale, who caught his eye when she founded a fan club for him. But he does not seem to have told her of the split, as she said she was ‘astonished’, although gossip about his relationship with Miss Fascina – whose name translates as faggot, or bundle of sticks – had been rife for months.
Miss Pascale, who is said to have bought a wedding dress in 2014 to celebrate the media tycoon’s divorce from his second wife – with whom he has three children – added: ‘I will hold him dear for ever. I wish him all the happiness in the world and hope he finds someone who will take care of him as I have.’
Berlusconi, who controls much of Italy’s media, has dominated Italian politics for more than 25 years despite a series of gaffes and scandals, including his notorious ‘bunga bunga’ sex parties. He was forced to resign as prime minister in 2011 after he was accused of paying a 17-year-old girl for sex.
In 2013 he was jailed for seven years but the conviction was overturned the following year. He faces another trial for bribing guests at his parties to stay silent. A key witness died last year after claiming she had been poisoned.
Berlusconi was barred from politics in 2013 after a conviction for tax fraud but the ban was removed in 2018 and he is now an MEP.