Berlusconi in trouble over use of bad word
{{date|April 4, 2006}}

[[w:Italy|Italian]] [[w:Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[w:Silvio Berlusconi|Silvio Berlusconi]] has found himself under fire for using the word "coglioni" to describe his opponents during the run-up to the general election in Italy. Roughly translating to "idiot", "cretin", or "fool" in English, it is Italian slang for "testicles", it is as rude as the term "prick-head".

[[w:Romano Prodi|Romano Prodi]], former [[w:European Union Commission|European Union Commission]] President and opponent of Berlusconi, was quick to criticize his use of the term, stating, "With all the respect I have for (Berlusconi's) voters I would never use that anatomical term we heard today used about us."

Berlusconi later defended himself, stating that his comments were supposed to be "ironic" and that his opponents were manipulating what he said. 

==Sources==
*{{source
|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-04-04T184831Z_01_L04511084_RTRUKOC_0_US-ITALY.xml&archived=False
|title=Berlusconi under fire over vulgar word
|author=Philip Pullella and Robin Pomeroy
|pub=Reuters
|date=April 4, 2006}}

[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Silvio Berlusconi]]
[[Category:Romano Prodi]]
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[[it:Berlusconi dà del "coglione" agli elettori di sinistra]]
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has found himself under fire for using the word "coglioni" to describe his opponents during the run-up to the general election in Italy. Roughly translating to "idiot", "cretin", or "fool" in English, it is Italian slang for "testicles", it is as rude as the term "prick-head".

Romano Prodi, former European Union Commission President and opponent of Berlusconi, was quick to criticize his use of the term, stating, "With all the respect I have for (Berlusconi's) voters I would never use that anatomical term we heard today used about us."

Berlusconi later defended himself, stating that his comments were supposed to be "ironic" and that his opponents were manipulating what he said.
Europe Italy Politics and conflicts Silvio Berlusconi Romano Prodi