The industrialists' association Confindustria blasted Premier Silvio Berlusconi again on Monday, urging him to take lessons on the economy after his outburst at their meeting.
Confindustria Deputy chief Andrea Pininfarina called the centre-right premier's speech on Saturday "unorthodox" and urged the media magnate-turned politician to go back to college and take lessons in economy and management from one of Italy's top academics.
He stressed that the country "is in a difficult situation" but the premier does not want to face the fact.
The premier had initially bowed out of his scheduled appearance at the Confindustria conference on Saturday because of a back problem, sending Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti to replace him. But in a sudden change of mind, he limped into the
conference centre and addressed the gathering, refusing to comply with the agreed question-and-answer format.
When moderator Ferruccio de Bortoli, editor of financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, urged him to stick to the agreed rules, the premier replied: "Do you think that time matters more than what I'm trying to say?" Berlusconi then launched a tirade against his
opponents, Italian newspapers and the left, accusing them of fabricating reports of an economic crisis.
"Let's not be led astray by the pessimism of the newspapers we read in the morning: Corriere della Sera, La Stampa, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica, Il Messaggero. Tell me if we should not be afraid of (threats to) democracy. Is something wrong with all these newspapers that are backing them (the centre left) or not? ...Let's open our eyes, please."
He then singled out shoe manufacturer Diego Della Valle - a centre-left supporter with whom he sparred recently on a TV talk show - who was sitting in the audience. "I see that Mr Della Valle is shaking his head. If a businessman has lost his head and supports the left it means he has a lot of skeletons in the cupboard and has plenty of things to ask forgiveness for, and so seeks haven within the left and Magistratura Democratica (the leftist magistrates' union)" said the premier, amid boos and catcalls.
Berlusconi left as suddenly as he had appeared, as supporters shouted "Silvio, Silvio" while others continued to hoot and replied with "Prodi, Prodi".
Della Valle later told reporters that Berlusconi was "on the verge of a nervous breakdown."
Confindustria chief Luca Cordero di Montezemolo tried to placate the row, saying at first that he was too respectful of the premier's institutional role to make any comment.
But in a statement on Sunday, the organisation said that "the overbearing attempt to de-legitimise Confindustria was unacceptable."
Confindustria supported Berlusconi when he swept to power in 2001 but relations have since become frosty.
Montezemolo, who also heads Ferrari and Fiat, has often blasted the government's economic policies. But he has also repeatedly stressed that Confindustria would not be dragged into taking sides between left and right in the campaign for the April 9-10 election.
On Friday, Romano Prodi, whose centre-left coalition is leading Berlusconi's in the polls, got a polite but lukewarm reception when he addressed Confindustria. Berlusconi dismissed criticism from the board of Confindustria, arguing that Montezemolo was "isolated" and that most Confindustria members were on his side.
The opposition said his outburst was an indication of his "desperation" because he is knows he will lose the election.
Last week, he walked out of a talk show, accusing the interviewer of being biased. Later, the TV watchdog agreed that the journalist, former chief of state television RAI, had overstepped the mark. But even some of the premier's allies gave him a rap in the knuckles over the latest outburst.
Foreign Mininister Gianfranco Fini, leader of the right-wing National Alliance party, said that Berlusconi was just as wrong in claiming that "Italy is a rich and happy country as is the opposition in saying that we have brought the country to a disastrous state."
Agriculture Minister and AN heavyweight Giovanni Alemanno said he was "perplexed" by Berlusconi's methods, saying that this was not to best way of attracting undecided voters.
Berlusconi's staunchest supporters said the premier had simply told the truth.
Labour Minister Roberto Maroni said he agreed with Berlusconi's speech in "style and substance. Except for the first three rows, the rest of the audience fully backed what he said."
