Berlusconi's Last Act

The infamous Italian leader will exit the stage of the world's most dangerous economy

David Ramos / Getty Images

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrives for the second day of the G20 Summit on November 4, 2011 in Cannes, France.

If there were background music for the drama unfolding in Europe right now, it would be Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. And Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's soon-to-be-former Prime Minister, would play the lead role. During his 18 years in politics, Berlusconi--a onetime cruise-ship crooner whose political troubles have delayed the release of his album of love songs--has faced more than 50 no-confidence votes, dozens of allegations involving everything from tax evasion to Mafia ties to drugs and, of course, numerous sex scandals. His exploits on that score, from a relationship with an underage Moroccan belly dancer to the "bunga bunga" orgies with prostitutes...

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