Politician · person

Silvio Berlusconi on Angela Merkel

Insulting colleague (strong)

TL;DR

Silvio Berlusconi publicly insulted Angela Merkel with vulgar language, reflecting a strained but acknowledged political relationship.

Key Points

He was reported to have referred to Angela Merkel as a "lard-arse" around 2008, according to media reports.
Berlusconi later denied insulting her, claiming that she understood his jest and found it amusing, following an alleged insult in 2008.
His public statements regarding Merkel were frequent enough to become an established part of his controversial image in international relations.

Summary

Silvio Berlusconi's public stance toward Angela Merkel was notably characterized by deeply offensive personal remarks, which contrasted with their necessary diplomatic interactions as European leaders. He was reported to have called her a "lard-arse" and "unfuckable" on separate occasions, statements which caused considerable diplomatic embarrassment for Italy. These verbal attacks were often captured or reported by the media, leading to denials or explanations that downplayed their severity or intent, such as claiming they were jokes or that Merkel herself did not mind.

Despite the harsh personal language, the relationship between Berlusconi and Merkel operated within the framework of European Union politics, where cooperation was essential, particularly during times of economic difficulty. His comments were part of a broader pattern of controversial statements Berlusconi made about international figures and events throughout his career. On one occasion, he reportedly made a remark suggesting Merkel should be sent to a prisoner of war camp, though he later claimed she understood his joke and found it funny.

Key Quotes

an unf******e lardarse

Insult reported in Italian newspapers January 1, 2010

“peekaboo, I'm here”

Joke at Italian-German summit in Trieste January 1, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Silvio Berlusconi say about Angela Merkel?

Silvio Berlusconi was reported to have used highly vulgar and offensive language when speaking about Angela Merkel, including derogatory terms about her appearance. These comments were widely reported by the press, causing diplomatic issues for his government, according to several reports from the early 2010s. He often downplayed or denied the severity of the remarks afterwards.

Has Silvio Berlusconi changed their stance on Angela Merkel?

Berlusconi's fundamental position of expressing highly critical or offensive personal opinions toward Angela Merkel remained consistent across the documented instances. While he sometimes issued retractions or claimed his words were misunderstood jokes, the initial highly negative personal commentary was a recurring feature of his interactions with her, as documented in various articles. There is no evidence of a complete reversal to a positive stance.

Did Silvio Berlusconi and Angela Merkel maintain a working relationship?

Despite the highly personal and insulting remarks attributed to Silvio Berlusconi, he and Angela Merkel maintained a working relationship necessary for European Union governance. The relationship required cooperation at the political level, even while personal comments from Berlusconi created friction, as noted in reports about their interactions during major summits. This shows a contrast between his personal language and his professional obligations.