Italy’s embattled prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, plans to address parliament on Thursday, after his center-right coalition failed to pass a key budget provision on Tuesday. In his speech, Mr. Berlusconi is expected to ask for a confidence vote to be held on Friday. He would have to resign if he loses. Italy’s next elections are […]
Berlusconi Seeks Confidence Vote to Save Coalition
Italy’s Berlusconi Rejects Calls for Resignation After New Gaffe
Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi has rejected new calls for his resignation after making a vulgar remark about women. Mr. Berlusconi told political supporters Friday that being the Italian leader is a “burden that I personally would be glad to be rid of.” But he said there was “no alternative” to his continued rule through the government’s […]
Berlusconi Aides To Face Trial For Abetting Prostitution
A Milan judge has ordered three of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s aides to stand trial on charges they allegedly abetted prostitution. The aides — Emilio Fede, Nicole Minetti and Lele Mora — allegedly hired a 17-year-old and other young women for erotic parties at Mr. Berlusconi’s home. They are also accused of establishing contact […]
Italy PM Berlusconi Back In Court
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was back in a Milan court Monday for the resumption of one of the four trials against him. Mr. Berlusconi’s current trial deals with allegations he bribed British lawyer David Mills to lie in court during the 1990s to protect the prime minister’s business interests. Mr. Berlusconi is also involved […]
Berlusconi: I Have Nothing to be Ashamed of
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has again denied charges of bribery, tax evasion and sexual misconduct — calling them “villainous” attempts to discredit him. The beleaguered prime minister said Friday that he has done nothing to be ashamed of. In a letter to Italian political daily Il Foglio, he wrote that for the past three […]
Milan Court Turns Down Berlusconi Request To Move Sex Trial To Rome
A court in Milan has denied a defense request to move the sex trial of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to a special tribunal in Rome. Prosecutors say the 74-year-old Berlusconi paid a 17-year old Moroccan girl known as Ruby for sex at his villa. They says he also tried to use his influence to […]
Italy: Berlusconi Investment Arm Ordered to Pay Rival $801 Million
The investment company of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to pay $801 million to a rival business venture after it bribed a judge to win approval of the takeover of a publishing company. A Milan appellate court on Saturday upheld a 2009 lower court ruling against Mr. Berlusconi’s Fininvest company, although it […]
Italy’s Berlusconi Wins Parliament Vote
Italy’s Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday won a vote of confidence in Parliament on measures aimed at boosting the country’s wavering economy. The prime minister’s success in the lower house came after his center-right coalition party suffered two important local election losses and was defeated on referendums on nuclear power, water privatization and trial […]