Berlusconi party protests at attempt to close loophole that could spare him jail
Source: Guardian
The parliamentary leaders of Silvio Berlusconi's party have demanded the suspension of parliament in protest at a decision by the supreme court aimed at preventing him from evading a four-year jail sentence on a technicality.
The heads of the media tycoon's Freedom People (PdL) movement in both chambers said they wanted the legislature to cease all activity for three days. The centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which is joined to the PdL in Italy's left-right coalition, immediately rejected the demand, opening a rift within Enrico Letta's already fragile government.
In a further threat to its survival, Berlusconi's representatives announced they were boycotting a meeting on Wednesday of the three parties that make up the coalition.
The media tycoon has already been convicted in two lower courts of a €7.5m (£6.5m) tax fraud orchestrated by his Mediaset TV company. The judges added to the prison sentence, which Berlusconi is unlikely to have to serve, a ban on his holding office for five years, which would be an even harsher blow.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/10/silvio-berlusconi-party-loophole-appeal-italy
