A court has ordered former Italian President SILVIO Berlusconi to pay his former wife Veronica Lario a whopping 46 Million dollar a year in maintenance payments after walking out on the former Italian prime minister, complaining that he consorted with minors.

The award - which works out at almost 132,000 dollar a day - is said to be 10 times more than the billionaire media magnate originally offered to Veronica Lario, the actress whom he married in 1990 after seeing her Coverless in a play.

The legal separation agreement, reported yesterday by Corriere della Sera, comes as Mr Berlusconi prepares for what he hopes will be a political comeback in elections in February.

The size of the award provoked outrage among his supporters. "This is a punitive sentence that represents an attack on Mr Berlusconi," said Iva Zanicchi, a Euro MP for Mr Berlusconi's party. "Think of all those who work eight hours a day and take home 1000 euros a month."


Mr Berlusconi, aged 76 and a father of five, recently announced his engagement to a former TV showgirl who is almost 50 years younger than he is. Francesca Pascale, 27, already dubbed "Lady Berlusconi" by the Italian press, would be his third wife. Some friends, however, have suggested that the betrothal is an election gimmick.

He is still on trial accused of paying for sex at his infamous bunga-bunga parties with a nightclub bellydancer known as "Ruby the Heart-Stealer" when she was under 18. He was once Italy's richest man but has slipped to sixth in the Forbes rankings, with a fortune valued at $US5.9 billion ($A5.7bn). However, he still controls the leading private TV channels in Italy, as well as the football club AC Milan.

He had two children with his first wife, Carla Dell'Oglio, whom he married in 1965. His second marriage began to break up in 2007, when Ms Lario published a letter in La Repubblica demanding an apology from her husband for flirting with Mara Carfagna, the former Miss Italy contestant he appointed Equal Opportunities Minister.

Two years later, she again went public when her husband nominated four young actresses and models as his candidates in European elections. The final straw came when Mr Berlusconi was seen at the 18th birthday party of an underwear model. "This surprised me," Ms Lario commented. "He never attended the 18th birthday parties of his children."

Mr Berlusconi's son and daughter from his first marriage have taken a leading role in running the family businesses and there has been speculation about a power struggle between them and Mr Berlusconi's three children with Ms Lario.

The separation settlement will not grant Ms Lario any interest in Mr Berlusconi's businesses, leaving her children with their present 7.5 per cent stakes in the Fininvest family holding company.

The decision also lets Mr Berlusconi keep the couple's former home, the grandiose Villa Belvedere in Macherio, which is valued at 78 million euros.

Although Ms Lario very publicly walked out, neither husband nor wife asked the court to determine fault in the divorce.

Under Italian law, couples have to wait at least three years to divorce once a legal separation settlement has been established. The terms can be revised at that time.

Mr Berlusconi will then be free to marry Ms Pascale, a showgirl who entered politics after founding a "We Miss You Silvio" committee.


http://believeafrica.net/court-orders-berlusconi-to-pay-million-a-year-divorce-settlement-p248-108.htm

Goooood News!
Nothing like a trading in an old spouse for a new one!
The ex can also buy a young boy - toy with all that 'settlement' money!