Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi ruined his debut as head of the EU on Wednesday when he stirred outrage by comparing a critical German lawmaker, Martin Schulz with a Nazi concentration camp guard. Berlusconi’s jibe, which he insisted was meant as an ironic joke, sparked fury in the EU Parliament and embarrassed EU officials, overshadowing Italy’s EU presidency, which began on Tuesday. The outburst fuelled the doubts of those who have questioned Berlusconi’s suitability to lead the 15-nation bloc, given the billionaire-turned-politician’s volatile character. Opposition Italian MPs demanded that he resign, some of his allies expressed dismay. Berlusconi declined to retract. The Vice-President of the European Socialist Group, Gary Titley, said that EU leaders would discuss what action to take if he refused to apologise. The flare-up came after Schulz criticised an alleged conflict of interest between the political role of Italy’s richest man and his extensive media empire. ‘‘Schulz.there is in Italy a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of a Kapos. you’d be perfect,’’ Berlusconi exclaimed to jeers in the hall. Kapos were petty criminals, sometimes Jewish, used by Nazi German death camp authorities during WW II to enforce discipline among inmates. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has also asked for an apology. On Thursday, Schroeder said the Italian premier had expressed regret for the remark and Berlin saw the row as ended. (Reuters)
