The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Berlusconi

  • Berlusconi faces expulsion vote

    Berlusconi faces expulsion vote

    The Italian Senate will vote later on whether to expel former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament over his conviction for tax fraud, BBC reports.

    Analysts said a large majority of senators is expected to back his expulsion.

    The former PM has called for supporters to protest in Rome against what he said is a political vendetta.

    The vote comes a day after Berlusconi withdrew his Forza Italia party from the coalition government.

    The ex-premier, who has dominated politics for nearly two decades in Italy, had asked senators to delay the vote on his expulsion because he claims to have new evidence proving he did not commit tax fraud.

    However, the vote is expected to go ahead on Wednesday evening.

    He threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue earlier this year but backed down during a confidence vote.

    The 77-year old has dismissed the Senate, which is dominated by his political opponents, as biased against him.

    Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to United States films. The verdict was upheld in August.

     

  • Tax fraud: Senate to decide Berlusconi’s fate

    Tax fraud: Senate to decide Berlusconi’s fate

    A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has gathered to decide whether to expel Silvio Berlusconi over his conviction for tax fraud.

    The disgraced former prime minister, who dominated the country’s politics for nearly two decades, is expected to lose his seat in the Senate, BBC reports.

    He threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue but backed down a confidence vote.

    If the panel votes against him, a final vote will be held in the Senate itself.

    The media tycoon was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to United States films. The sentence was upheld in August.

    Representatives of both Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s centre-left Democratic Party and Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party sit on the Senate’s committee on elections and parliamentary immunity.

     

  • Berlusconi sentenced over wiretap leaks

    Berlusconi sentenced over wiretap leaks

    An Italian court on Thursday sentenced former prime Silvio Berlusconi to one year in jail over the publication of leaked transcripts from a police wiretap in a newspaper that he owns.

    Berlusconi, who faces two more verdicts this month for tax fraud and having sex with an underage prostitute, can appeal the conviction which would suspend the sentence under Italian law.

    Italian sentencing guidelines indicate that people aged over 75 and with sentences of less than two years do not have to actually go to prison, AFP reports.

    Berlusconi, a billionaire media tycoon, is 76.

    “I am disappointed and concerned because I am convinced that the proof was insufficient, contradictory or missing,” Berlusconi’s lawyer Piero Longo told reporters after the hearing.

    “I was not expecting a conviction,” he said.

    Fabrizio Cicchitto, a leading member of Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party, said: “The plan to eliminate Silvio Berlusconi through the justice system is now so obvious that it is dangerous for democracy.”

    “We will make our voices heard loud and strong on democracy and the need for justice that is fair and worthy of a civilized country,” he said.

    The party is preparing a demonstration later this month against a justice system that Berlusconi frequently portrays as left-wing and biased.

    Berlusconi stood accused of violating secrecy laws after his Il Giornale daily published transcripts in 2005 that were widely seen as an attempt to discredit a senior member of the centre-left Democratic Party ahead of elections in 2006.

     

  • Berlusconi’s accountant ‘kidnapped’

    Berlusconi’s accountant ‘kidnapped’

    Police in Italy have arrested six people accused of kidnapping the accountant of ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and attempting to extort money.

    Giuseppe Spinelli and his wife were held hostage for 11 hours at their home last month, police in Milan said.

    The armed intruders are said to have asked for 35m euros (£28m; $44m) in exchange for documents they said could help Mr. Berlusconi in a legal case.

    BBC says Mr. Spinelli was forced to call Mr. Berlusconi, who then called his lawyer.

    The intruders left after speaking to the lawyer, a news conference was told.

    Police said they had arrested three Italians and three Albanians on suspicion of kidnapping and extortion. Three had forced their way into Mr. Spinelli’s apartment and the other three were accomplices, they added.

    However, Italian media said many questions surrounding the episode remained unanswered.

    The hostage-takers are said to have told Mr. Spinelli that the documents could overturn a 2011 court ruling that had forced one of Mr. Berlusconi’s companies to pay compensation to a rival media firm.

    The authorities were not informed about the kidnapping until more than 24 hours later, although police did not explain why.

    The news conference was told that no money had been handed over. Police said they had used closed circuit TV footage to track down the extortionists.

    Mr. Berlusconi has faced a number of legal cases over the years, mostly involving his business activities.

    Last month he was convicted of tax fraud, although his lawyers say he will appeal the verdict.

     

  • Berlusconi: I’m committed to Milan

    Berlusconi: I’m committed to Milan

    AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has maintained his commitment to the club after Italy’s controversial former Prime Minister found himself embroiled in another scandal.

    Berlusconi was on Friday found guilty of tax fraud and was handed a four-year jail sentence – reduced to one – on charges of inflating the price of distribution rights bought by his Mediaset group to avoid paying taxes. He is expected to appeal against the sentence and was in a bullish mood at a press conference on Saturday. Berlusconi threatened to bring down Mario Monti’s government stating that it had led Italy into a “spiral of recession”. His centre-right PDL party is set to decide whether to end its support in the coming days – a move that could lead to early polls. Questioned on his support for AC Milan, Berlusconi said: “I wanted to dedicate myself to a football team that needs some care. I intend to continue the work of modernisation and change.”

    Berlusconi’s comments come after Milan vice-chairman Adriano Galliani this month stated the club has received no approaches from potential investors as speculation continues to grow over its future. The latest reports saw Milan this month forced to deny claims that it plans to sell a stake in the club to the Qatar sovereign wealth fund or other investors. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport had reported that Berlusconi was considering selling a 30% stake in Milan for Eur250 million. Gazzetta said the investment could help Milan pursue plans for a new stadium or redevelop the San Siro. However, Galliani told Sky Italia: “President Berlusconi has always said that new investors are welcome and the doors are always open. However, I can assure you 100% that right now there are no buyers.”

    The latest reports come after confectionary giant Ferrero last month moved to deny claims that owner Michele Ferrero was in talks to launch a takeover of Milan. The Italian media reported that Ferrero, who is Italy’s richest man with a fortune estimated at Euros 19 billion, had already examined Milan’s finances and was close to making an offer for the club. Berlusconi returned to Milan in March, four months after having resigned as Italy’s Prime Minister. In 2011, Berlusconi’s daughter, Barbara, joined the board of directors that voted to bring back the controversial media mogul and politician to the club. In February, she insisted that her family remained committed to the club.