The Berlusconi era - prime minister, bohemian, football president in "100% awake" on BNT 1 TV
Maxim Behar defines Silvio Berlusconi as the founder of modern populism
Host: Hello! Today we decided to make the cinema column a little different because on Monday passed away at an advanced age, perhaps the most colorful political personality in Europe and the world in recent years. The founder and leader of Force Italia, football benefactor, TV mogul, passionate lover of beautiful and many times younger women, a loudmouth with dyed hair, a Californian tan, and a flawless smile for millions. Always stylish and unconventional, embroiled in sex and corruption scandals. This is Silvio Berlusconi, the longest reigning prime minister in Italy's recent history, that they even made a film about him, and in his lifetime, and by none other than the brilliant Paolo Sorrentino. Here is the culinary nomad Adi Guiseleva, who for many years was perhaps 20-24 years old. A deep connection with Italy where her mother, actress, producer, and journalist Ana Maria Guzeleva, good morning, hello, "Buongiorno ragazzi" as they say in Italian. The company is completed by none other than businessman, PR expert and of course one of the most stylish men I know, Maxim Behar. Hello, welcome.
Maxim: "Buongiorno."
Host: First, let's talk about what do you think this charisma of Berlusconi is due to, really to rule so much to rule one of the biggest political forces in Europe and the world is not at all a coincidence?
Maxim: Proof of what I've always believed is that one either has it or one doesn't. I mean, this thing that Berlusconi exuded, to me he is the originator of modern populism. The fact is that Berlusconi had great charm and he also had an innate sense of literally persuading with a word. Apart from the fact that he invented social media long before Facebook and long before it was invented, we remember how the first elections were won by call centers that he owned in Italy, around his television empire. And what modern politicians are doing now on Facebook, Twitter here and there on Instagram, if one gets a sense. But he was doing it with the direct contacts of his empire, really a very intelligent, resourceful, and memorable man for generations to come.
Host: What are his most illogical appearances that he will be remembered for perhaps in public? I remember everybody got out of a limousine talking on the phone and made a sign to Angela Merkel who was waiting for him that he had more to say. As a PR expert Maxim what can we say?
Maxim: If he's talking about all those things that are Berlusconi-related and comical, we should do a whole show just about them. There are two points, the first one is political really because when Berlusconi became prime minister Italy had in 30 years about 45 governments and was torn by small parties that could never make a government. In this way, I am making a kind of reference to Bulgaria now. At some point a charismatic guy with money who knew how to do it came along and stayed in power for a long time. In that sense, he united the Italians and at this political moment is unique for a country like Italy. By the way, I open a parenthesis, you remember that in Bulgaria there was also a charismatic personality Ivan Slavkov "Bateto", who even named his party "Forward Bulgaria", as "Force Italia". He wanted to do something similar in the Bulgarian society, but he failed because the society was not ready. In Italy, society was ready to have its Berlusconi and to be with him. And the second point is of course, he's a very rich man and all of us who know these rich people, especially Americans, are serious, frowning and deeply thoughtful. And he's such a smiley and with these women around him, he had a charm, and he brought a great "relax" about him, even with these stories with Merkel. Or the other one with Merkel, she's walking down a path, I think it was in Brussels, and he comes out of the bush and says, "Coo-coo!" and she's startled.
Host: Tony Servillo, how's he doing, he's really Berlusconi to me. A little bit different in profile, but purely visually, I was downright fascinated by his performance when I first watched it on BNT, and it was nice that it was subtitled.
Maxim: Maybe there are yet to be films made about Berlusconi from different perspectives, which is good because all sides of him will be explored. From a PR point of view, it really seems to me that he is a big hit and far in the future professors will be giving examples of Berlusconi during lectures, to their students.
Host: Queen Elizabeth, Berlusconi, really a lot of colorful personalities in political and public life left this year. Did they have anyone to replace them? Aside from the diabolical figure of East Putin, but have they had such colorful politicians in Europe and the world?
Maxim: There is a gigantic crisis for leaders, and we all know that we see it in Bulgaria and around the world. Politics has changed, it's not so much down to the people who would run governments, nations, peoples. Politics as it is now in the world and mainly in Europe does not work and will never work again in the future as it is.
Host: Finally, what do you think it will be remembered for?
Maxim: For being able to get things done. Not many people know how to do things, start it, and finish it. And for being able to do everything with charm.
Host: Thank you very much for this informative and engaging conversation.
You can watch the whole interview here.