Wife Veronica Lario files the papers, sick of his wandering eye

May 4, 2009 10:26 GMT  ·  By

The Italian Prime Minister has a fortune estimated at about $9 billion and it will be at the center of what will presumably be the costliest divorce ever, as well as one of the most mediated. Veronica Lario, Berlusconi’s wife of many years, filed the divorce papers, admittedly tired of seeing the 72-year-old politician constantly surrounded by young girls in the press and hearing stories of his wooing ways with them, Times Online says.

This report comes only days after Mrs. Lario publicly admonished her husband for attending the birthday party of an 18-year-old girl and showering her with presents, when he missed so many birthdays of his own children. Over the weekend, Mrs. Lario reportedly met with a female friend who is also an attorney, and came to the decision that she could no longer stay married to Berlusconi, even if that meant the media would have a go at her and her reputation.

Mrs. Lario has reportedly already spoken to the Italian press, confirming that a divorce is imminent at this point. “I am going to ask for a divorce. I want to do the right thing – I cannot stay with a man who surrounds himself with minors.” she said, adding that this was a decision she was “forced to make.” Nevertheless, she explained, the children would not interfere in any way in the proceedings, having already expressed their intention of not taking any side.

As for Berlusconi himself, he is not willing to discuss the issue of the divorce with the media just yet, in what must be a first in a really long time. “It’s a personal issue that pains me, that is in the private sphere, and which seems necessary not to speak about.” the PM said in a press statement recently released. Mrs. Lario is also very private in the matter, with reports saying that she’s looking to get out of the marriage “quietly” and without much fuss, which probably means that money will not be an issue in the divorce, it has been said.

A couple of days ago, Mrs. Lario publicly lashed out at her husband, saying he was promoting “trash” for going out in public in the company of young women who could be his daughters, and for encouraging them to pursue a career in politics. However, it was him attending the birthday of his associate’s daughter the straw that really broke the camel’s back and especially reports that she called him “papi” (daddy), as the Italian media claims.