"I don't believe that a politician can allow himself to make distinctions between public and private life". This was one of the hard-hitting comments made to the Italian Vanity Fair by Berlusconi's 25 year old daughter.
"I think that a society has a sense of a common moral code and politicians, who are asked to lead and help the community prosper, should safeguard that code, and if possible improve it".
In a long interview the Italian weekly provides an outlet for Barbara Berlusconi, the first child between Veronica Lario, Berlusconi's estranged wife that is involved in a tough divorce fight, to share her thoughts on the recent affairs that have placed her father on newspaper front pages across the world.
Barbara says she is "astounded" that her father had such a relationship with the 18 year old Noemi Letizia. "I had a normal and a simple upbringing. I have never had older men as friends. These are psychological ties that I have no experience of".
When asked about the divorce between her parents she says there is a feeling of wanting to support both of them. She says it is a very painful process for all and there is a strong sense of disappointment. However, when asked whether her parents' relationship was a great love story she says "I am sure it was for my mother".
The reaction to the interview by the Prime Minister seems to have been one of fury - with reports indicating that his first comments were "She reminds me of her mother" and "No-one had warned me - it was a cold shower".
After an intervention by Berlusconi's lawyer Ghedini a press release from Barbara Berlusconi said that "she has nothing but love towards her father which she greatly respects and admires both as a man and as a politician".
