The wife of Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has slammed her husband’s idea of fielding TV starlets and models as candidates in June’s European elections.

In a public attack, Veronica Lario described the plan to promote women without political experience as ‘shamelessly trashy.’ In comments published in La Republicca the former actress said the move was a stunt ‘simply in the name of power’. While, reports say a former Big Brother contestant was among those considered to represent the PDL party, Berlusconi has accused his wife of being manipulated by the left. “Unfortunately my wife believes what the newspapers have written,’‘ he said. ‘‘We want refresh the image of the political class with well educated people, who will always be present at parliamentary sessions, who are well dressed and smell good — this is not currently the case for some deputies,’‘ Berlusconi added. It is not the first time Italy’s first lady has publicly attacked Berlusconi, having criticised his fawning comments about Mara Carfagna who joined his government last year.More about: Italy, Silvio Berlusconi

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