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He praised a dictatorA ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force. and once said that earthquakeThe shaking of the surface of the Earth after a sudden burst of energy at a tectonic plate boundary. survivors were having a free "weekend of camping". Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian leader who died this week, had a life full of scandals. He also faced many courtA place where matters of the law are decided by judges or juries. cases.

Some hated him. But others loved him. And many think he may have inspired other politiciansSomeone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country. around the world.

In the USA, Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. was once best known for being a celebrity television presenter. He was not like other politicians who wanted to lead the USA in 2016. But he won anyway.

Now, even after scandals, losing an election and several appearances in court, Donald Trump is still very popular with many Americans.

In fact, some think he could be elected as presidentIn some countries, the leader is called the president. again in 2024.

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In the UK, another former leader is also in the headlines. On Thursday, a report found that Britain's former leader Boris JohnsonThe Conservative Prime Minister of the UK and head of the government from 2019 to 2022. had misled the UK's parliamentAn assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws. over parties held during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

And in Scotland, the former leader Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday. The police are investigating how her party handled thousands of pounds of donationsA gift someone gives to a cause they believe in. .

Political scandals are not new. But some say they are becoming more common because of the leaders in power today. Many are people who can talk easily to big crowds - but they sometimes ignore the rules.

Where does that leave morality? Nowhere, say the critics.

Yes! Scandals always make the headlines. But good politicians are the ones remembered in hundreds of years time. There are many politicians whose only goal is to make people's lives better.

No! Most leaders today are looking out for themselves, not the people. They like having lots of power - but do not use it in the right way. And politicians who stick to their morals are often not very popular.