Berlusconi escapes trial thanks to new immunity law

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

ROME (AFP) — Italy's Senate on Tuesday passed into law a bill that effectively grants Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi immunity from prosecution during his time in office, the ANSA news agency reported.

The law grants political immunity to the incumbents of Italy's four most powerful positions: the posts of prime minister, president and the speakers of the two parliamentary chambers.

It was approved by 171 votes to 128 against, with six abstentions, ANSA reported.

Italy's lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, approved the bill earlier this month.

The most immediate beneficiary of the law is Berlusconi, who had been facing trial on a charge of having paid his British lawyer David Mills, 600,000 dollars (380,000 euros) to give favourable testimony in two trials.



Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLIsoVbIJIZ-XSalW-hjCzeRNdDg

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Gee

are the Democrats advising the Italians now?

[Indenturedebtor]

2. And the jackboots march on :( n/t

[AndyTiedye]

3. Whey You OWN the Media, You Can Get Away With ANYTHING

[panzerfaust]

4. Every time when (all the time??) I get discouraged about

... the USA, Italy comes through to show us we are not (yet) the most corrupt nation on earth.

Strange, because individual Italians do not seem to be like their business and mafia controlled government.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Most people aren't like their governments (luckily!).

It isn't usually the cream that rises to the top of government in any country. Though Berlusconi et al are worse crooks than many!

[LeftishBrit]

6. Uggghhhh! Even apart from the specific Berlusconi aspect,

putting top government officials above the law is just wrong.

[entanglement]

7. The fascist thug seems to be enjoying himself...