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Silvio Berlusconi and the law

Back in the dock

Feb 16th 2011, 17:42 by T.N. and J.H. | LONDON AND ROME

ANOTHER week, another legal headache for Silvio Berlusconi. Following a request from prosecutors in Milan, a judge has indicted the Italian prime minister on charges of paying for sex with an underage prostitute (the by-now infamous "Ruby Heartstealer") and abusing his office by securing her release from police custody. The trial is due to begin on April 6th. Mr Berlusconi denies all wrongdoing.

"Rubygate" is not Mr Berlusconi's only legal concern. Two trials relating to alleged financial improprieties are due to resume next month. If, like us, you sometimes struggle to keep up with the complexities of the Italian prime minister's legal struggles, our interactive guide, below, should help.

UPDATED: 16th February 2011

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1-12 of 12
Feb 9th 2011 9:41 GMT

We should praise Mr Berlusconi's ability to call a spade a spade. He is the only Western leader who (although indirectly through the Ruby affair) referred to Mr Mubarak as "uncle of a bitch"

spagano wrote:
Feb 9th 2011 11:58 GMT

i am italian. the prime minister of my country does not speak and does not act in decent people's name.

Gambadilegno wrote:
Feb 10th 2011 2:35 GMT

This is a very serious and important point for Italy. It is very difficult for foreigners to clearly understand what the Berlusconi government is trying to do and that is to transform and turn upside down the truth that is in plain sight for everybody to see. To have to listen to PDL representatives in the Parliament who affirm that Berlusconi acted in good faith to prevent a diplomatic scandal is a total and unprecedented act of mystification of the truth. This last and extreme offense orchestrated by the team of lawyers paid by Silvio will not be tolerated. This time this will not pass and will not be fortgotten easily by all the honest people who still call themselves Italians.

sandroun wrote:
Feb 10th 2011 9:33 GMT

To understand Italy , there's a funny quotes of ex prime minister Andreotti, which said that... is really difficult explain Italy's way of life because we are used to call a slow train 'Rapido' (which mean fast in italian) and most important newspaper 'Il corriere della sera '(means night reporter) is indeed a morning newpaper...that's why probably now we call 'prime minister' an old whoremonger!

drewskin wrote:
Feb 10th 2011 10:44 GMT

Not so long ago, Italians used smirk patronisingly at 'those puritan Anglo-Saxons' who got so worked up at the sexual escapades of politicians (Bill Clinton, assorted Tory ministers, etc).
Now they have been dragged in the same direction by a left-wing opposition that has nothing to say politically and its minions in the judiciary.

sandroun wrote:
Feb 11th 2011 9:35 GMT

@drewskin: we can't define what happened in Italy "sexual escapades of politicians" what Mr Berlusconi did is different- He is involved in underage prostitution and he said to italians that one of his favourite (underage) harem-girl she was Mubarak's granddaughter.Berlusconi phone to police station to say that finding a silly excuse because he was scared. He is very sick and subject to be blackmailed. Excuse me but there's a big difference between Clinton and Berlusconi. I'm not defending left parties at all saying that.

Ravello wrote:
Feb 12th 2011 11:11 GMT

Perhaps it may not warrant space on The Economist's daily chart, but the fall out of Berlusconi's Fininvest having bribed a judge to find in its favour for the acquisition of the Mondadori publishing group 20 years ago.

Not insignificant the compensation due for that corruption, 750million euros, that Fininvest has appealed to have the compensation reduced.

The significance is such to a desperate Berlusconi, that his minions in his TV empire set up a smear campaign against the judge that confirmed the value of the award.

The shocking claim: the judge wore turquoise socks!

edmcw wrote:
Feb 15th 2011 8:26 GMT

The prosecution calls Ricky Gervais for a "Golden Globes"-style opening indictment.

Razorhack wrote:
Feb 17th 2011 6:04 GMT

I wish Berlusconi being more involved in those disgusting scandals and not being JUDGED. His politicians ,who are also his defending attorneys,will be only focused on his problems and it will prevent italians from being hit by the dangers due to the actions of his lausy government!
First of all, Italy doesn't have a decent Democratic party coalition as well a decent democratic candidate. In the left side there are too many small leaders and the body of the coalition is disbanded. Why so? There are many reasons. Berlusconi has probably corrupted some of them as he did during last time the Dems were in office. So the oppositions are totally collapsed and they have no decent plans beside having their leaders fighting each other for small portion of power. Las month for example, there was a parliament voting poll asking the Minister of the Culture Sandro Bondi to resign. He is responsible of the collapse of Italy's cultural patrimony by adopting cuts in state funding over 69 % . Ladies and Gentleman, we are talking about Italy and not just a generic country. Italy owns the 41 % of the world cultural patrimony in archaeological sites, museums, sculptures, libraries,galleries, places, theaters and historical town centers. Right now the state funding for culture is the 0,28 % of his Gross Domestic Product. This is the lowest rate of the entire Europe. Lower than Romania, Albania...and not even comparable with the national funding of Greece, Spain, Germany, France. Culture is the gold miner of Italy. Reinassance was born here, most of the liberal arts were born here even written music (Guido D'Arezzo) and Opera. There are no funds,theaters are closing ( Maggio Musicale in Florence and the opera House in Genova are on closure) monuments are collapsing moreover this government have done nothing, except blabbering,by developing a serious sistem of private rising funds , tax shelter and tax credit in order to attract private investors. Only Cinema industry has those benefits, and we know why, Berlusconi owns the most important Movie Companies in the country. Anyway yesterday there was the chance to remove the Culture Minister out of his office for having seriously damaged LIFE TERM our patrimony. Many of the Dems. politicians were not present in the room for voting. The voting was won by Berlusconi coalition and so, the Minister will be able to stay in office and finish his job of destroying the italian Culture. Berlusconi was a very good friend of former corrupted leader Craxi. Berlusconi has promoted a law called " tax shield" to protect those who put theyr rich savings in off shore banks. Berlusconi is a friend of former declared neo fascists and former fascists and he has never report that to USA and EU congress. Berlusconi has cut the taxes to people who own more than one house. Those taxes were indispensable to cities to survive and making their community services working. Berlusconi has chosen in his parliament coalition 13 people who were judged criminals by law. Berlusconi has modified the italian election spoil system in a way that citizens are not anymore able to choose their own candidate but the candidate is being choose by the party's office. Berlusconi had omitted any control to the new euro coin when first was implemented in Italy so that shops owner (who are his election target pool) could double the prices of items with no reasons. Berlusconi has cancelled patrimony taxes on last wills or transfer properties to family members and right after the approval of the law he has transfered to his children most of his proprieties. Berlusconi since when he is in office had 4 time double sized his own patrimony. Berlusconi has removed from the national broadcasting television Rai TV all the journalists and anchor men who didn't like him. Berlusconi has made laws called : Cirelli, Previti, Cirami wich are all names of members of his office who had gone in trouble with italian laws, those laws were made to protect and avoid them trials.Berlusconi has been in office for almost 20 years the financial balance of Italy is a disaster and during his last past office he has changed 3 times the Minister of the Finance. Berlusconi has "scraped" laws that were punishing fake balance and fraud bankrupt for companies. Berlusconi has given the permission to France to "sac" one of our most important Bank : Banca Nazionale del Lavoro. Then when our National Electric Company ENEL was try to buy French Companies he got "trouts" in the face by France !
Berlusconi was elected by an electronic spoil system controlled by the company named "Accenture" , CEO of Italy's branch at that time was the son of one of his coalition's minister. As you see there is no much to debate.As a result italians have their own hands tight. There is only one way for a young italian citizen to succeed in life : Immigrate to a better country!
P.S. Berlusconi is the older leather in the world after Castro!

condorpasa wrote:
Feb 19th 2011 10:23 GMT

There are some mistakes about the description of the mr.b legal troubles.
In fact one of this concerns the corrumption of a witness in a trial, Mr. David Mills, who has used the laws maded from Berlusconi's government to avoid prison. But Mills was recognised guilty, although not closed in prison, and he had to pay a compensation at the italian government (!). Now this sentence can be used by the judge to condemn Mr. B in one minute after the beginning of the trial.
I'm italian and I'm scared by what Mr. B will do to escape from justice. My beautiful italia is divided in "with Mr.B" and "hate Mr.B" and both parts have some extremism that can be lose the objectivity.
Pray for us.

condorpasa wrote:
Feb 19th 2011 10:34 GMT

For Razorhack
"Many of the Dems. politicians were not present in the room for voting".
It's no true. The absences were in UDC, another opposition party (and ex allied of Mr. B), due to the fact that Mr.Berlusconi forced the date of the votation in a particular day in which many politicians of UDC were in the UE parliament for istitutional occasion.
In italy, now, it's impossible, or very difficult, to make to feel own voice in parliament or in media.

condorpasa wrote:
Feb 19th 2011 10:42 GMT

@ Alis non tarsis
You must add also 315 (!) politicians of italian parliament, who referred to Mr Mubarak as "uncle of a (poor) bitch"
And in this last case we have an official act of the parliament.
I'm very sad: the PDL/Lega politicians are stupid or not honest. What is better?

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