ROME — Italy's flamboyant ex-porn star and former politician Cicciolina plans to set up a new political party as the antithesis to her country's corrupt politics, according to excerpts from an interview published Tuesday.
"We want to set up an optimistic party of the future. Enough with these parties of profiteers, vote-selling, tenders and corruption!" the Hungarian-born Italian -- real name Ilona Staller -- told Oggi magazine.
"We're thinking of a party of honest people: against the military and in favour of the rights of the weak," said the 59-year-old, who became notorious for delivering campaign speeches with her breasts exposed.
"I would go among the people to listen to their problems," she said.
Cicciolina entered politics in 1979 as part of Italy's first environmentalist party, before joining the Radical party in 1985 and campaigning against nuclear energy, world hunger and human rights.
She was a member of parliament between 1987 and 1991.
In September 1990, at the outset of the Gulf War, she said she was "ready to have sex with Saddam Hussein" in order to restore peace in the Middle East.
The skimpily-dressed buxom blonde has achieved celebrity status in Italy and abroad, where she regularly appears hugging a teddy bear on front pages.
Her plans for a fresh take on politics come two days after a senior Catholic cardinal condemned Italian leaders whose behaviour violates public dignity, stopping just short of naming prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Italy's premier is accused of paying for sex with a 17-year-old pole dancer and members of his cabinet are caught up in corruption and sex scandals.
Cicciolina said she was also considering running for mayor in the northern Italian town of Monza.
"I would make Monza an exciting town! It has a lot of potential. If the Royal Villa was turned into a luxury casino, for example, the town council would have loads of money," she said.
The ex-porn star has sparked controversy because she will soon be eligible to claim a parliamentary pension -- despite serving as member of parliament for just five years -- while Italy cuts back to stave off a vast debt crisis.
