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Berlusconi suffers legal setback

By The World ⋅ January 13, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
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Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi could face multiple trials if the Constitutional Court rejects the 'legitimate impediment' law (Photo: Presidenza della Repubblica)

Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi suffered a legal setback today. Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Prime Minister can no longer claim official business as an excuse to avoid testifying in legal cases against him. The court’s ruling amends a law Berlusconi’s government had passed last year, allowing him and member of his government to claim “legitimate impediments” as a way to avoid court. The World’s Gerry Hadden has more. Download MP3

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One comment for “Berlusconi suffers legal setback”

  • http://www.blogfromitaly.com/ Alex Roe

    An update for your readers.

    Italy’s constitutional court reached its decision on the ‘legitimate impediment’ law today.

    The decision of the court has partially reduced the effects of the law, but has placed the onus on the judges presiding over individual cases to decided whether or not Berlusconi’s official duties constitute an impediment to his appearing in court. The constitutional court has offered Italy’s lower courts a helping hand of sorts in that it has laid out in a list just what can be considered to be a duty which will legitimately prevent Berlusconi from attending court hearings. The list is wide ranging and also includes engagements which may arise from other engagements.

    In any event, from what I have understood, court hearings can be postponed for a period of six months as a result of a legitimate legitimate impediment, so to speak, being presented by Berlusconi’s legal representatives.

    By way of a prediction, Berlusconi won’t be entirely happy that the matter will be placed in the hands of Italy’s judges – Berlusconi thinks they are a bunch of left-wingers who are gunning for him.

    What the future holds remains to be seen – but the majority of the Berlusconi government in Italy’s lower house remains shaky.

    Best regards from Italy,

    Alex Roe