There has been media speculation in Italy about the nature of Italian premier Berlusconi's relationship with a teenager named Noemi Letizia. The premier's wife, Veronica Lario has stated pointedly that her husband "consorts with minors." She also said that he is "unwell" and needs help. It is unlikely that Lario would make these accusations publicly unless she had good reason for going there.

Berlusconi appears to have an odd compulsion to say things in public that are outlandish. To call his behavior "charming" or "mischievous" is misleading. There is nothing charming about a comment he made when he visited Abruzzo following the devastating earthquake.

A video shows Berlusconi posing with a group of firemen in front of a damaged church. There is only one woman present and Berlusconi says "can I feel up the lady a bit". He was with the firemen, so maybe he wanted to show-off to amuse the guys. He gets a charge from saying these things.

He's a bit like an exhibitionist who can't control his urge to flash. Saying shocking and outrageous things can show a stroke of originality, even come off as amusing depending on the situation. It's just that Berlusconi manages to be inappropriate most of the time.

Not so long ago following a proposal to deploy 30,000 Italian troops to help fight crime, he said that Italian women are so beautiful they need military escorts to avoid being raped. The comment stirred outrage, despite Berlusconi's lame claim that his comment was "a compliment" to Italian women.

In 2005, he boasted that he used his "playboy tactics" on president Tarja Halonen of Finland to ensure her backing to host the European Food Safety Authority.

The manner in which Berlusconi's idiosyncrasies are tolerated in Italy is reminiscent of the way the Romans put up with the often bizarre activities of their emperors. If Berlusconi had the free rein of say a Tiberius, it would probably be party time at Palazzo Chigi every day.

How far did it go with Noemi Letizia? Who knows. The Italian paper Repubblica poses the question: "Veronica Lario reported that her husband goes out with minors. Are there other minors whom the prime minister meets?"

So far Berlusconi has been more defensive than informative.