Oscar winner Roberto Benigni took on Italy's conservative political establishment Monday with a prime-time satirical monologue broadcast on state-run RAI.
Benigni poked particular fun at Premier Silvio Berlusconi, saying he had a lot in common with Jesus because he represented a trident of sorts: premier, chief of soccer team AC Milan, and head of his Fininvest holding company.
Benigni, whose "Life is Beautiful" won Best Foreign Language Film at the 1999 Oscars, has been an outspoken critic of Berlusconi, taking part in protests along with other prominent left-leaning Italians.
Berlusconi is Italy's richest man and presides over a media empire that includes control over RAI as well as ownership of its main competitor, the private Mediaset.
There was no immediate comment from Berlusconi on the show, which was heavily promoted in the Italian media.
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