The carnivalesque private life of Silvio Berlusconi introduced a bemused world to the notion of "bunga bunga".

BBC: The 10 most scandalous euphemisms

His showy populism, unseemly slanging matches with the judiciary and bunga-bunga parties now seem to come from a far-off era in a faraway land.

ECONOMIST: Politics in Italy

The mainstream leftists of the Democratic Party, peddling the same austerity-lite as Monti and Francois Hollande in France, hold a massive lead in recent polls over the movement of Bunga-Bunga clown prince Silvio Berlusconi.

FORBES: Why Monti's Exit Is a Smooth Move

Many Italian men and women believe that Mr Berlusconi brought shame on their country - but many others believe the stories of bunga-bunga parties were exaggerated by left-wing magistrates and their allies in the press.

BBC: Italy: Berlusconi spots his opening

Berlusconi is on trial in Milan on charges he paid an underage Moroccan teen for sex during infamous "bunga-bunga" parties at his villa and then used his office while premier to try to cover it up.

NPR: Pro-Berlusconi Rally In Italy Draws Cheers, Jeers

All this stuff about Berlusconi and his bunga bunga parties, or Sarkozy and Merkel simpering at each other, the EFSF being a water pistol not a bazooka, these are all just the second and third leads, the clowns gambolling around the central absurdity which every good farce has to have.

FORBES: Eurozone: The Farce Continues