Italy is again debating the question of whether Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi should be granted immunity from prosecution. The country’s top court is debating whether a law passed soon after he came to office in 2008 is constitutional. It grants the prime minister immunity from prosecution while in office. Opponents argue that no one is above the law. His supporters claim that without the protection, Berlusconi would be “distracted” from governing and may be forced to resign.
Berlusconi has been the object of several court cases involving corruption, including one where his British lawyer, David Mills, was found guilty earlier this year. Prosecutors in that case are appealing to the Constitutional Court about Berlusconi’s immunity.
In a separate corruption trial a judge ruled 5 October on a case involving his media holding company Fininvest and ordered it to pay €750 million in damages. The judge said that as the owner of the company Berlusconi was “co-responsible.” BBC, Corriere della sere (Ita), Reuters
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News story, GenevaLunch, 6 October 2009.
Filed under: World news
Tags: corruption, David Mills, Fininvest, Immunity from prosecution, Italy high court, prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, top court