The real problem here is the sheer embarrassment and the loss of international credibility (provided we ever had one) for Italy, thanks to the antics of an outlaw, a court jester who has been lucky and clever enough (why not? Credit where is due) to fool the majority of the Italian voters several times since 1994.
This article is published courtesy of the Financial Times:
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s centre-right prime minister, on Thursday said he would defend himself in court against what he called “absurd” charges following the rejection of his immunity from prosecution by the constitutional court.
(I will tell you what it is absurd here – it’s the fact that he has not resigned yet…; every politician with a shred of decency would have done so ages ago).
This article is published courtesy of the Financial Times:
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s centre-right prime minister, on Thursday said he would defend himself in court against what he called “absurd” charges following the rejection of his immunity from prosecution by the constitutional court.
(I will tell you what it is absurd here – it’s the fact that he has not resigned yet…; every politician with a shred of decency would have done so ages ago).
“The two trials against me are false, laughable, absurd, and I will show this to Italians by going on television and I will defend myself in the courtroom and make my accusers look ridiculous and show everyone what stuff they are made of and what stuff I am made of,” he said in a radio interview.
(Looking forward to it mate – bring it on….).
Mr Berlusconi had been on trial in Milan in two separate cases last year when parliament passed a law giving immunity to him and three other holders of top state office. The trials were suspended.
After two days of deliberations the 15 constitutional judges ruled by nine to six on Wednesday that the immunity law was unconstitutional on the grounds that all Italians are equal before the law.
The trial in which he is accused of bribing David Mills, his former UK lawyer, to give false testimony to protect his business interests will have to start all over again with new judges, lawyers said. A date has not been announced. Mr Mills, who was found guilty last February and given a 4½ year jail sentence, will have his appeal heard from Friday. Both men pleaded not guilty.
The second case involves Mr Berlusconi’s Mediaset television company and allegations of tax fraud and false accounting surrounding the acquisition of foreign television and film rights. Mr Berlusconi has denied wrongdoing.
Reacting to the constitutional court’s ruling, Mr Berlusconi defiantly declared on Wednesday night that he intended to stay in office until the end of his term in 2013, ruling out resignation or early elections.
But raising the stakes in his long-running battles with the courts, Mr Berlusconi also launched a broadside against the constitutional court and the judiciary as a whole, accusing judges of leftwing bias. He also attacked Giorgio Napolitano, head of state and a former communist, as being from the left.
(What? Turning against your partners in crime now, are you? That's not very nice... but neither is lying to the whole country time and time again.)
His attack on the court and the president has polarised public opinion more than the issue of immunity. His angry broadside shocked even some of his coalition partners who had already started distancing themselves from Mr Berlusconi during exposure over the past six months of sex scandals involving prostitutes at his parties.
Gianfranco Fini, speaker of parliament and co-founder with Mr Berlusconi of their new People of Liberty party, upheld the prime minister’s right to stay in office but pointedly rejected criticism of the court and the president.
Giulio Tremonti, finance minister, said in a statement he was most honoured to serve in Mr Berlusconi’s government. He avoided criticism of the institutions of the state, however.
Leaders of the divided centre-left opposition were delighted that Mr Berlusconi had lost his immunity. But they were also clearly relieved that they would be spared snap elections which opinion polls indicate Mr Berlusconi’s coalition would win comfortably.
Commentators on Thursday said the nation risked being the loser in all this, with a government handicapped by Mr Berlusconi’s legal battles and his standing in the international community further weakened.
Rome’s daily Messaggero newspaper commented: “The real problem is the good of the country.”
(Looking forward to it mate – bring it on….).
Mr Berlusconi had been on trial in Milan in two separate cases last year when parliament passed a law giving immunity to him and three other holders of top state office. The trials were suspended.
After two days of deliberations the 15 constitutional judges ruled by nine to six on Wednesday that the immunity law was unconstitutional on the grounds that all Italians are equal before the law.
The trial in which he is accused of bribing David Mills, his former UK lawyer, to give false testimony to protect his business interests will have to start all over again with new judges, lawyers said. A date has not been announced. Mr Mills, who was found guilty last February and given a 4½ year jail sentence, will have his appeal heard from Friday. Both men pleaded not guilty.
The second case involves Mr Berlusconi’s Mediaset television company and allegations of tax fraud and false accounting surrounding the acquisition of foreign television and film rights. Mr Berlusconi has denied wrongdoing.
Reacting to the constitutional court’s ruling, Mr Berlusconi defiantly declared on Wednesday night that he intended to stay in office until the end of his term in 2013, ruling out resignation or early elections.
But raising the stakes in his long-running battles with the courts, Mr Berlusconi also launched a broadside against the constitutional court and the judiciary as a whole, accusing judges of leftwing bias. He also attacked Giorgio Napolitano, head of state and a former communist, as being from the left.
(What? Turning against your partners in crime now, are you? That's not very nice... but neither is lying to the whole country time and time again.)
His attack on the court and the president has polarised public opinion more than the issue of immunity. His angry broadside shocked even some of his coalition partners who had already started distancing themselves from Mr Berlusconi during exposure over the past six months of sex scandals involving prostitutes at his parties.
Gianfranco Fini, speaker of parliament and co-founder with Mr Berlusconi of their new People of Liberty party, upheld the prime minister’s right to stay in office but pointedly rejected criticism of the court and the president.
Giulio Tremonti, finance minister, said in a statement he was most honoured to serve in Mr Berlusconi’s government. He avoided criticism of the institutions of the state, however.
Leaders of the divided centre-left opposition were delighted that Mr Berlusconi had lost his immunity. But they were also clearly relieved that they would be spared snap elections which opinion polls indicate Mr Berlusconi’s coalition would win comfortably.
Commentators on Thursday said the nation risked being the loser in all this, with a government handicapped by Mr Berlusconi’s legal battles and his standing in the international community further weakened.
Rome’s daily Messaggero newspaper commented: “The real problem is the good of the country.”
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