Ethics Newsline®

Silvio Berlusconi long has claimed that the judiciary is mounting a political vendetta against him

ROME
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, embroiled in a corruption scandal, last week won a significant battle outside of the courtroom by convincing the Senate to pass a law that could grant him immunity from prosecution.

India’s lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, approved the measure earlier in July.

The Financial Times reports that Berlusconi’s lawyer has yet to determine whether the measure actually will be employed in his client’s defense.

Berlusconi said the new law would put an end to the “unacceptable persecution” he has endured since entering politics in 1994, according to the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, Italy’s largest news agency.

For years, Berlusconi has accused the judiciary of waging a politically motivated vendetta against him. His critics say Berlusconi has abused power, engaged in corrupt activities, and abused his ownership of the state media to suppress criticism.

”In Italy there is a section of the magistrature that is dedicated to undermining the election results and wishes of the Italian people,” Berlusconi told the ANSA.

The new law grants sweeping political immunity to the prime minister, the president, and the speakers of the two parliamentary chambers — the four most powerful positions in Italian government, reports Forbes.

Sources: AFP, July 26 — Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, July 24 — Financial Times, July 24 — Forbes, July 23.

For more information, see: Related Newsline story, Dec. 22, 2003 — Related Newsline story, June 30, 2003 — Related Newsline story, Oct. 28, 2002 — Related Newsline story, May 20, 2002 — Related Newsline story, Apr. 8, 2002.