Berlusconi 'trying to do deal to avoid prosecution'

[kevinmc]

Independent UK

Silvio Berlusconi refused again yesterday to concede defeat to Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition in the Italian election, demanding the formation of a broad coalition in a letter that commentators said amounted to a request by the media mogul for immunity from prosecution.

"On the basis of the popular vote, there's no winner and no loser," Mr Berlusconi claimed in the letter to the Corriere della Sera. Hours earlier, the premier had said he still hoped he would be declared the winner, as long as the count of contested ballots continued. He renewed an appeal to create a coalition government, "limited in time and aimed at dealing with the country's institutional, economic and international commitments".

Mr Prodi's Union coalition has slender majorities in both houses of parliament after the roller-coaster election divided Italy almost in two a week ago. But this is not just a case of Mr Berlusconi being a bad loser, say pundits. During his five years in office he spent much of his time passing laws to avoid going to jail. Many commentators believe Italy's richest man wants to gain an informal pledge of immunity from judicial proceedings from Mr Prodi's government, in return for a guarantee that his Forza Italia party will not make political life unbearable for a fragile administration........

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article357991.ece

[WhiteTara]

1. if the president does it, it can't be illegal

we've heard that before and then to back it up with blackmail. I wonder what they will do.
:popcorn:

[savemefromdumbya]

2. Silvio's sour grapes?

[NYC]

3. Or maybe Silvio's fear of conviction.

:)

[peacetheonlyway]

4. deja vu'

one day, this will be deja vu' for bush and cheney..

the minute they don't have a strangehold on the government, they will be up for prosecution just like berlusconi...

give me some popcorn, i'm enjoying watching bush's future unfold as pre-told by the fascist berlusconi...

[Amonester]

5. The chickenhawko's afraid to go to jail?

He's feeling guilty about "something" for sure...

Me wonders what! :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[aquart]

6. Aww, he's just like our George.

So, what about the way that Mussolini left office? Would it work?

[Kutjara]

7. The bastard's worried.

He was so close to getting fried about three years ago that he got the legislature to pass a law granting him immunity from prosecution. The Italian supreme court overturned that one about a year later but, by that time he'd rallied enough political support (read, intimidated enough witnesses and bought enough favors) to ensure that any attempted prosecution would fail. Which it duly did.

Now, however, he's scared that all the people he bullied and intimidated into amnesia might suddenly recover their memories and start singing from the rooftops. Hence this frankly pathetic attempt to extract concessions from Prodi. Hopefully, Prodi is a sufficiently canny political operative to realise that, when Burlesconi is out of office and facing criminal charges, his loyal party comrades will ditch him like yesterday's gnocchi.

Silvio is screwed and he knows it. I, for one, can't wait to see him get payback. Hopefully, he will himself start blabbing and reveal some scumminess about his friends Bush and Blair. Bring it on!


edit for the usual typos

[AndyTiedye]

9. Let's Hear Him SING About the Niger Forgeries

cooked up by the Italian intelligence service for silvio's friends dubya and deadeye.

[Kutjara]

10. Well, the Italians...

...are some of the best cooks in the world. Who better to prepare such a feast from such poor ingredients?

[nine23]

13. "...will ditch him like yesterday's gnocchi."

That's pretty funny...I just about spewed JD all over my keyboard!:) (However, I must say, we all know gnocchi's pretty de-lish the "next day" tho...still a very funny post! And 100% spot-on.)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. So is dude planning on NOT moving out of the office?

[gunsaximbo]

11. just disappear the bastard

[JohnnyRingo]

12. Oh oh...I bet once the new admin takes over they'll go through the secret

files and records and he's afraid he'll swing like Mussolni.
He's refusing to give up the keys.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Sounds like a "Sore Losermanioni". n/t

[Swamp Rat]

15. Italians are gonna crucify Berlusconi

Hope Springs Eternal! :D