ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER Silvio Berlusconi has tried to laugh off the most recent scandal visiting him – and managed to disgrace himself even further - by saying that “having passion for beautiful women is better than being gay”.

As the Italian media fills with calls for his resignation over his interactions with a 17-year-old Moroccan runaway, the 74-year-old premier refused to apologise for his fondness for young women, reports Reuters.

Speaking at a meeting at a motorcycle industry show in Milan, Berlusconi said:

As always, I work without interruption and if occasionally I happen to look a beautiful girl in the face, it’s better to like beautiful girls than to be gay.

You should be completely reassured about the government and about the fact that it’s a government that still has a majority that intends to govern until the end of its term.

Berlusconi has endured a string of scandals over his relationships with women in the past, but recently has come under particular pressure to step down as speculation about his relationship with the teenage girl gained momentum. The teenager, reportedly named Karima Keyek but known as “Ruby”, alleges that Berlusconi gave her €7,000 in cash and an expensive necklace during a party she attended at his villa in Milan.

However, she denies sleeping with Berlusconi.

Allegations have also surfaced that Keyek was released from police custody in May, after being arrested on suspicion of theft, when Berlsuconi improperly intervened on her behalf.

The prime minsiter has brushed off the claims, saying:

This recent storm in the newspapers is a paper storm.You will see in the end that nothing else happened apart from an act of solidarity by the prime minister, which I would have been ashamed not to do.

Berlusconi’s comments about homosexuality have drawn contempt from gay rights activists and commentators. American actor Julianne Moore, who was in Italy presenting her new film about a lesbian couple raising their teenage children said she thought Berlusconi’s comments were “unfortunate, archaic and idiotic”.

Italian gay rights group Arcigay demanded an apology, saying that Berlusconi’s comments “represent a dangerous incitement to prejudice and helps legitimise discrimination, injustice and suffering,” reports The Press Association.

Berlusconi’s minister for equal opportunity, Mara Carfagna defended Mr Berlusconi’s record on anti-discrimination measures however, saying that the prime minister had just been joking.

“(He) absolutely never intended to offend women or homosexuals,” she said.