Italian prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi, one of Europe's most garrulous politicians, used an unknown word on Tuesday while describing the irritation he sometimes feels over EU rules, setting the blogosphere on fire.

The word "zignare" had hardly left Berlusconi's lips when the Italian blogosphere began buzzing with debate over its meaning.

It was not long before a blogger posted the information that Berlusconi had in fact first used the word on 28 October 2005 in a complaint about journalists' pesky questions.

At the time, Berlusconi said it referred to what "mosquitoes do on elephants' backsides, with little result but annoying all the same," the blogger wrote.

On Tuesday, Berlusconi, in what he called a "threat" to the European Union, said he would nationalise instead of privatise the loss-making Alitalia airline if the EU began tormenting him in this way.

"If they start to zignare, we may decide for the state to acquire Alitalia through the Ferrovie dello Stato," he told reporters outside parliament, referring to the national railway.

The European Commission has asked for details of a planned state loan of €300-million to the airline.

"I have acted with respect for the EU," Berlusconi said, adding: "We need a Europe that helps us and not one that makes things more difficult."

One blogger wrote: "He wants to rewrite Italian history, imagine what he will do to the language!"

During Berlusconi's last stint as prime minister, from 2001 to 2006, he presided over public spending deficits well over the three percent of gross domestic product required for eurozone countries.

Berlusconi is set to take office early next month.

AFP