Man fined for insulting Berlusconi

[kskiska]

Insulting some heads of state may cost you your liberty or worse. In Italy, the price to pay for offending the government chief was set slightly lower yesterday, albeit at a relatively steep €500 (£345).

That was the fine dished out yesterday to a man who shouted "buffoon" at the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, two years ago.

Piero Ricca enraged Mr Berlusconi in May 2003 by heckling him as he was leaving a law court where he was being tried on corruption charges. The insult became a rallying cry for Mr Berlusconi's opponents.

Mr Berlusconi asked police to identify the heckler so he could be prosecuted, and later said he had been victim of an "ambush" by state-owned TV channel RAI3, which filmed and broadcast the incident.

(snip)

After more cries of "buffone" from crowds in the days after the incident, Mr Berlusconi said he would call for the prosecution of anyone "who offended the office of prime minister".

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1418152,00.html

[proud patriot]

1. See it's times like this right here that I'm thankful to be American

Now if I could only get within earshot to call bush a buffoon.

[Nite Owl]

2. And the White House was

on the phone with him asking the particulars of that law.:evilgrin:

[Hillary08]

3. ROTFL! n/t

[Massacure]

4. Chimps and Baffones have a lot in common I hear.

We better be careful.

[oblivious]

5. SILVIO BERLUSCONI IS A BUFFOON! Sue me!

[NYC]

6. He called Berlusconi a buffoon, not the office of prime minister.

Mr Berlusconi said he would call for the prosecution of anyone "who offended the office of prime minister".

I don't think the man offended the office. I'm sure Berlusconi realizes that.