DONALD Trump ended his victory speech with the words: “And I love this country. Thank you.” A fondness for fervently patriotic declarations is just one of many similarities between America’s president-elect and another billionaire who made his fortune from real estate before turning to politics.
In 1994, Silvio Berlusconi pioneered a new form of conservative populism when he announced his intention to run for prime minister in a televised address that began: “Italy is the country that I love.”
Both portrayed themselves as an alternative to mainstream politics. And convincingly so. Mr Trump won in the teeth of opposition from much of his party’s leadership. Mr Berlusconi created a party of his own in months and appointed executives from his advertising firm to top positions within it.
Both men have legendarily huge egos, a fondness for locker-room bragging and, while protesting their love of women, seem to judge them solely on their physical attributes. Both men have been involved in sex scandals.
Like Mr Trump, Italy’s former prime minister–still the leader of a sizeable party—uses plain, earthy language...Continue reading
Souce: Europe http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21709984-americans-could-look-italy-taste-things-come-what-donald-trump-and-silvio?fsrc=rss
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