Topless surprise for ‘bunga bunga’ Berlusconi

ITALY: Bearing ample evidence of the nips, tucks and hair transplants that have reversed the march of time, Silvio Berlusconi beamed to supporters yesterday as he cast his vote in Italy’s closely-watched election.

The three-times prime minister swept up to a voting station in his hometown of Milan sporting a smart dark suit with a winter jacket slung over his shoulders.

Then there was a surprise. A young woman suddenly leapt on to a table and bared her breasts, with the words ‘‘Time’s up, Berlusconi’’, written across her chest. She turned out to be a Femen activist, but she may have reminded Berlusconi of old times.

The 81-year-old was forced out of office seven years ago amid an economic crisis and alleged dalliances with barely-clothed young women at so-called ‘‘bunga bunga’’ parties.

Trials relating to those risque gatherings, in which he is accused of bribing the actresses and starlets to give false testimony, are still ongoing. that the only way to guard against a turn to populists and extremists was to vote for the Democrats. Gentiloni has been cited as a possible candidate for premier.