2009 - A hell of a year for Berlusconi

THE NOEMI AFFAIR
A year into his third spell as Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi's troubles began in the last northern spring when it was revealed he had attended the 18th birthday of lingerie model Noemi Letizia in Naples. He gave her a gold necklace, and it later emerged that Letizia had also been invited on her own to parties and dinners in Rome.

SEX TAPES
The scrutiny of Berlusconi's sex life reached a new level when escort girl Patrizia D'Addario claimed she had slept with the Prime Minister at his Rome residence. Tapes were leaked of alleged bedroom conversations between Berlusconi and D'Addario.

PAPARAZZI EMBARRASSMENT
As the focus on Berlusconi's private life intensified, his summer residence in Sardinia came under the spotlight. Paparazzi photographs were published of half-naked guests enjoying Berlusconi's hospitality at the Villa Certosa. According to the Italian media, many young women were regularly flown over to the Villa and given lavish gifts.

DIVORCE
Furious and humiliated by the Letizia incident, Veronica Lario, Berlusconi's second wife, said she no longer wished to remain married to a man who "frequented minors". She filed for divorce in May.

FALLING OUT WITH THE QUEEN
There was more embarrassment after the traditional G20 family photograph in April, which included Queen Elizabeth. When Berlusconi shouted a greeting to US President Barack Obama, the obviously irritated Queen asked, "What is it? Why does he have to shout?" In Italy, the press joyfully seized on yet another Berlusconi gaffe.

PROTESTS IN THE STREETS
A political and legal storm was also brewing, as judges stripped Berlusconi of constitutional immunity from prosecution, requiring him to answer longstanding fraud charges. This month about 250,000 attended a No Berlusconi Day protest in Rome.

ATTACK IN MILAN
Eight months of intrigue, speculation and sordid revelations reached an extraordinary climax last week. Massimo Tartaglia, a 42-year-old electronics technician, threw a heavy replica of Milan's Duomo at Berlusconi, hitting him full in the face. Amid a wave of public sympathy, his supporters immediately called for an end to the "climate of hatred" towards him.

- OBSERVER