Berlusconi, whose family media empire owns Italy's main independent television channels, said state-owned broadcaster RAI was always against him."I've been able to say what a majority of Italians think, which is that it is unacceptable that public television, paid for by all, should be the only public television that is always against the government," he told RAI radio. As well as owning powerful broadcaster Mediaset, Berlusconi has a large majority in parliament which appoints RAI's board members, a position his critics say gives him far too much power over the media.
He attacked La Repubblica, the newspaper which has kept Italians riveted with steamy narratives by escorts of his parties and a daily list of 10 uncomfortable questions for the prime minister. "The only thing that appears off course to me is a certain type of journalism," Berlusconi said in response to a question about articles in Repubblica suggesting Italian secret service agents had gone "off course" in their investigations.
Berlusconi has boasted that selections for RAI's top executives are made at his house.
