Blimey, Buffoon Berlusconi's Bad

[David Guyatt]

Having bought immunity from prosecution during office, the strutting cock probably has already bought (or intimated via his mafia friends) the judges.

This is the score so far:

The law - 0

Buffoon - many

[URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/13/italian-court-berlusconi-immunity-law"]Italian court to rule on Berlusconi immunity law
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Italian court to rule on Berlusconi immunity law
Constitutional court will decide if two trials involving Italy's prime minister can proceed

Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 13 January 2011 10.02 GMT


Silvio Berlusconi has said he is totally indifferent as to whether his 'ridiculous' trials resume. Photograph: Shane Mcmillan/AP

Judges of a top Italian court began deliberating today on whether to uphold a law shielding the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, from two trials in Milan.

The court must decide if the legislation complies with the constitution, including the principle that all are equal under the law. It is expected to issue its ruling today.

If the constitutional court rejects the law, Berlusconi's trials on corruption and tax fraud charges will resume.

Berlusconi said this week that the stability of his government would not be affected by the decision and that he was totally indifferent as to whether the "ridiculous" trials were suspended or not.

However, a rejection of the law would deal a blow to Berlusconi, who has been weakened by sex scandals, a fight with a former ally and a shaky parliamentary majority.

The law suspends court proceedings for up to 18 months if a defendant has a "legitimate impediment" stemming from being the prime minister or a member of the government.

The law drew accusations that it was tailor-made for Berlusconi, but his lawyer told the constitutional court this week that it was necessary to safeguard the right to a fair defence and that the Italian criminal code already envisaged cases of legitimate impediment, such as grave sickness.

Italian media reports say the 15-judge court is almost evenly split and might seek a compromise solution rather than a clear-cut ruling.

One option would be to allow judges trying cases to decide whether to accept claims of legitimate impediment.

Berlusconi is accused of bribing British lawyer David Mills to lie in court in the 1990s to protect his interests. Mills was convicted in 2009 of having taken a $600,000 bribe, but the verdict was overturned last year when Italy's highest criminal court ruled the statute of limitations had expired.

In the other trial, Berlusconi is accused of tax fraud in the purchase of TV rights by his Mediaset broadcasting empire. An offshoot investigation ended last year and might lead to another indictment if the immunity law is overturned.