Berlusconi Announces Controversial Debt Solution

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, under pressure to alleviate his country’s debt problems, today announced his radical new measures to reduce the Italian deficit. Following the crisis in Greece and the potential crisis in Spain, concern has been expressed that Italy could be the next country to face crisis in the continuing disaster in the Eurozone, but Mr Berlusconi has been quick to dispel any rumours of trouble in the Italian financial markets. In an address today to the youth branch of his party, Mr Berlusconi announced that his cabinet will be opened as a brothel to paying customers, with all funds to be donated to the treasury.

The Prime Minister’s office is yet to clarify the exact mechanism of the new measures, however it is believed that the scheme was proposed by Mr Berlusconi himself, and sources suggest that in an act of self-sacrifice and with the hope of proving that the system works, he will be the first customer. When questioned on the morality of the move, Mr Berlusconi responded saying “My cabinet are in full agreement that this move is both the easiest and most pleasurable way to relieve the country’s debt problems. And I myself am confident that the cabinet will make the necessary sacrifices, for the sake of the country’. A full statement is expected to be made this afternoon.

Other European states have criticised the move, with Angela Merkel condemning the move as ‘debasing and objectifying’ women. David Cameron is yet to make a comment, however it is understood that Number 10 are arranging a visit to Rome, to coincide with the introduction of these new measures. Nicholas Sarkozy, the French president, has welcomed the measures, stating that this is the sort of ‘innovative thinking’ that will carry us out of the crisis in the Eurozone.