After criticising Berlusconi, Madonna faces backlash

ITALIAN-AMERICAN singer Madonna has been accused of supporting homosexuals and pandering to communists by political allies of Silvio Berlusconi after the 53-year-old made some disparaging remarks about the Italian Prime Minister.

Asked for her views on Berlusconi at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, Madonna replied: "What do I think about Berlusconi? I wouldn't like to talk about it now. But the Economist already said everything, didn't it?" That was believed to be a reference to the magazine's cover in June, which pictured Italy's PM smiling with the headline "The man who screwed an entire country."

Madonna went on to say that Berlusconi was "unsuited to govern Italy", adding that she would return to properly discuss the state of Italy after finishing promotion for her new film about Wallis Simpson, W.E.

The comments, published recently in Oggi magazine, have infuriated Berlusconi loyalists. "Her political thoughts are worth nothing," fumed Carlo Giovanardi, undersecretary in the Prime Minister's office. "Italians know that she's a multi-millionaire and that people are not going to be influenced by these rich and spoilt would-be lords".

Giovanardi didn't stop there. "Among other things she is openly for homosexual families and therefore openly against our culture and our Constitution," he continued, before dismissing the Economist on the grounds that it comes from "a country that has recently experienced strong social upheavals."

Other members of the People of Freedom (PDL), a centre-right political party launched by Berlusconi in 2007, were quick to dismiss Madonna's views. "It's disappointing that she's running down Italy because it's a country that loves her," said Gabriella Carlucci, a parliamentary MP for the PDL.

"It is obvious she has a communist press officer who told her what to say to get quoted in communist papers," she continued. "It is obvious she knows nothing about Italy."

PDL party official and former pop star Daniela Santanche went further, calling for the Queen of Pop's new film to be boycotted. "Madonna has offended millions of Italians," she said. "After this I hope she'll be left to watch her movie on her own." Even without the call to arms, that may well be the case - W.E. has been universally panned by the critics. ·