Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, lost his temper with a freelance journalist at a press conference yesterday and ordered him to be ejected.

The journalist, Rocco Carlomagno, was manhandled by Ignazio La Russa, the Defence Minister, after he rose to shout an unscheduled question to the Prime Minister about the future of Guido Bertolaso, the head of the Civil Protection Agency and Mr Berlusconi’s right hand man.

Mr Bertolaso has been caught up in an investigation by magistrates into an alleged bribery and sex for favours scandal involving building contracts for last year’s G8 summit in Italy. He denies any wrongdoing.

Increasingly under pressure over falling ratings amid corruption scandals and bungled election candidacies by his party, Mr Berlusconi, 73, called Mr Carlomagno a “boor”, adding “Mr Bertolaso will be able to sue you. Shame on you!” and asking aides to “show him the door”. He added: “Every morning when you look in the mirror to comb your hair you have already ruined your day”.

Mr La Russa left the podium to subdue the journalist, saying: “Behave, you lout” and grabbing him by the back of the jacket. Mr Carlomagno, a left-wing journalist noted for campaigning against nuclear power, was not ejected, but told reporters afterwards that he would lodge a complaint against Mr La Russa for “aggression”, claiming the Minister had punched him in the chest.