Felix the Cat
02-01-2006, 02:35 AM
Italian PM 'just joking' about no-sex promise (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1138747814224&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News)
ROME (AP) — Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's reported promise that he would abstain from sex until the April 9 general election was just a joke, the Italian leader said.
"It was a joke," Berlusconi said late Tuesday during a talk show on state-run TV. "We were laughing, joking."
"I don't (abstain) at all," Berlusconi said. He added that ``moderation" was necessary "since I have so many commitments."
On Sunday, an Italian daily reported that Berlusconi made the no-sex vow during a campaign rally the day before in Cagliari, Sardinia, with a popular TV preacher on the island and his followers.
The clergyman, Rev. Massimiliano Pusceddu, praised the prime minister for what he described as a defence of family values and promised that his followers would support the conservative leader.
According to the report, Berlusconi replied: "I thank you a lot. I will try to meet your expectations, and I promise from now on, 2 1/2 months of absolute sexual abstinence, until April 9."
The report was carried in Il Giornale, a conservative Milan daily owned by Paolo Berlusconi, the prime minister's brother.
Berlusconi is married to Veronica Lario, an actress.
Berlusconi's challenger in the vote is Romano Prodi, a centre-left leader and former prime minister.
ROME (AP) — Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's reported promise that he would abstain from sex until the April 9 general election was just a joke, the Italian leader said.
"It was a joke," Berlusconi said late Tuesday during a talk show on state-run TV. "We were laughing, joking."
"I don't (abstain) at all," Berlusconi said. He added that ``moderation" was necessary "since I have so many commitments."
On Sunday, an Italian daily reported that Berlusconi made the no-sex vow during a campaign rally the day before in Cagliari, Sardinia, with a popular TV preacher on the island and his followers.
The clergyman, Rev. Massimiliano Pusceddu, praised the prime minister for what he described as a defence of family values and promised that his followers would support the conservative leader.
According to the report, Berlusconi replied: "I thank you a lot. I will try to meet your expectations, and I promise from now on, 2 1/2 months of absolute sexual abstinence, until April 9."
The report was carried in Il Giornale, a conservative Milan daily owned by Paolo Berlusconi, the prime minister's brother.
Berlusconi is married to Veronica Lario, an actress.
Berlusconi's challenger in the vote is Romano Prodi, a centre-left leader and former prime minister.