Berlusconi agrees settlement with wife

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to pay his wife Veronica Lario approximately £30m a year to avoid a difficult and high-profile courtroom divorce.

The separated couple agreed a settlement which was filed at a Milan court before Christmas, but details of the arrangement have just emerged. Former actress Ms Lario publicised her intent on divorcing the media mogul in 2009 after over 20 years of marriage, following reports of his extramarital dalliances. The icing on the cake for Ms Lario was when 76-year-old Berlusconi attended an underwear model’s 18th birthday party, who then called him “Daddy”.

Ms Lario, 56, was not hesitant about airing her disgust over her husband’s lifestyle as she said she could “no longer stay with someone who consorts with minors”.

She continued to criticise him for his “shamelessly trashy” decision to field his favourite starlets as candidates for his PDL party in the 2009 European parliamentary elections. Ms Lario will receive €100,000 (£82,000) per day, whilst Mr Berlusconi will remain in possession of all his business interests and the €78 million Villa Belvedere near Milan where Ms Lario raised their three children, Barbara (28), Eleonora (26) and Luigi (24).

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