As a media mogul, Berlusconi has played a significant role in shaping popular culture in Italy, with public television serving up a heavy diet of scantily clad girls under his influence. Prime time programmes showing women hanging from hooks like meat and crawling under perspex tables whilst the presenters leer at them have caused outcry. Yet several women in politics and show business staunchly defend their leader's integrity. Deputy minister Daniela Santuche argues that women have never been more equal in Italy and that, "it's thanks to Berlusconi that Italy is getting over the idea that beautiful is dumb". The Prime Minister hasn't done much to help this argument, making public statements such as, "A very pretty girl asked my advice. I saw that she was pretty so I said, 'find yourself a rich man'". Will his controversial trial finally bring the colourful leader to account?

Produced by ABC Australia