Berlusconi's senate expulsion vote will be held today

Wednesday, 27 November 2013. Berlusconi's supporters gather in Rome as their leader will face expulsion from Italian Senate and “political death” perpetrated by a “firing squad” (as he put it).

«It's a coup d'etat», reads the sign hung in Rome by berluscones

Tonight, apparently at 5 pm – but it can happen even earlier than that, or later, as we are talking about Italy – the Italian Senate of will vote over the expulsion of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, due to a definitive conviction for tax fraud. Sky TV will stream a special report 'til midnight, to cover the story, all Italian media are tuned in.

In this hours the Berlusconi's supporters brandishing the newly formed Forza Italia party's flags (also known as berluscones) have started converging on Rome as a last attempt to stop the “firing squad”, as the billionaire called it. Berlusconi's girlfriend Francesca Pascale and other family members might show up.

Berlusconi will fight against the coup d'etat that plans to (politically) kill him, but a presidential pardon would do either

Sunday, 24 November 2013. Talking to the younger generation of Forza Italia militants, Berlusconi says he is a victim of a coup d'etat (and Giorgio Napolitano should help him getting out of the pickle).

Talking to a Forza Italia's gathering of young followers, Silvio Berlusconi reiterated his j'accuse, saying that he is a victim of a leftist coup d'etat aiming to his “political murder”.

Silvio Berlusconi with Annagrazia Calabria,
National Coordinator of Forza Italia's youth movement Giovane Italia (Young Italy)

And Italy's Head of State Giorgio Napolitano – went on Berlusconi - should “grant him a presidential pardon without any hesitation” even though his dignity does not allow him to ask for it (and Mr Napolitano previously tried to convince him that you can “grant” something only if somebody “have asked for it”).

In the meantime Berlusconi's former heir apparent Angelino Alfano said he won't join Forza Italia, founded a breakaway party (the New Centre-Right, NCR), declared he won't take part in the protest to be staged on November 27 (on that day the Senate will vote on Berlusconi's expulsion from the Italian parliament), even though he still loves Berlusconi and they should remain friends and allies and all that stuff.

Berlusconi cross: Napolitano left him out of the life Senator's list

Thursday, 29 August 2013. Becoming a life Senator could have meant to Silvio Berlusconi a way out from legal woes, but Giorgio Napolitano did not include the former prime minister in the list of celebrities. Too bad.

An angry Berlusconi (Photograph: Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi)

Of course Berlusconi's People of Freedom party put all the pressure they could to get the former prime minister in the list of newly appointed life Senators, but in the end they had to cope with the fact that their leader will not be granted the honour, perhaps because he is not a former head of state nor a distinguished personality in the arts and sciences (nope, bunga-bunga parties do not count as achievement in arts).

Berlusconi did not take it well (actually he is cross!), since it could have meant cutting the Gordian knot in a situation where he doesn't seem to find a way out: in few days the parliament will be voting on his expulsion from the Senate, following his conviction for tax fraud, and he is more and more frightened by the prospect (nope, the European Court of Human Rights might not grant his salvation).

Berlusconi and the seaside blitz

Thursday, 15 August 2013 (Assumption of Virgin Mary). As Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers announce they could ask the – otherwise puzzled – head of State Giorgio Napolitano to pardon the former prime minister, a flock of aeroplanes show up on the crowded Italian beaches to spur the support for the disgraced politician.

The "Blitz" seen from Santanchè&Briatore's Twiga beach club

Frenzy weeks ahead in Italy, after Silvio Berlusconi has finally been convicted for tax fraud at the beginning of the month, a sentence that could bring the former prime minister political power to an end (and leave the centre-right hunting for a new leader).  
A protest in Rome was organised in order to express frustration against the Communists-led judiciary, while Beppe Grillo's 5SM is working hard in order to try and strip Silvio Berlusconi of his knighthood and bring the Senate to expel him.

Berlusconi and the last race

Wednesday, 7 August 2013. An Italian newspaper reveals details of Silvio Berlusconi last attempt to escape from imprisonment.

Silvio Berlusconi, almost ready for the tour

After the Giro d'Italia (the Italian version of the French cycling race Tour de France, which took place in May 2013), according to right-wing newspaper Libero, Italy is going to witness another country-wide event, the Giro della Libertà (i.e. Tour of Freedom in English), a race meant to keep Silvio Berlusconi away from prison (if he's fast enough), after his conviction to a four-year prison term for tax fraud.

What are the details of the tour? The Knight was quotes saying «Until 15 August [Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary], I'll stay put,» to his inner circle he met at his residence in Rome Palazzo Grazioli, «but then I'll make a bang.», before moving on to his villa in Arcore. The objective of all this fuss? Obtain the presidential pardon from head of state Giorgio Napolitano (we assume).

Berlusconi tearful pledge of innocence in front of thousand of supporters

Sunday, 4 August 2013. Thousands of Berlusconi's supporters travel – free of charge – to Rome to listen to Forza Italia's founder pledge of innocence and refusal to be called (and treated as a) fraudster.

Silvio Berlusconi and girlfriend Francesca Pascale, moved and tested

Who thought that Silvio Berlusconi's first definitive conviction would mean get rid of the billionaire and calm down Italy, should think again, as the former prime minister gathered thousands of supporter in a meeting in Rome and Italian politics seems bound to plunge into turmoil.

Berlusconi's tax fraud appeal hearing date set too early?

Wednesday, 10 July 2013. A decision by the Court of Cassation – which sets for as early as 30 July Silvio Berlusconi's tax fraud appeal hearing – gets Italy's political life in turmoil ignited also by newspapers' aggressive headlines.

"State bandits"

“State bandits” reads Berlusconi's family newspaper Il Giornale (“The Newspaper”) today's headline with a list of evidence items (34 trials, 0 definitive sentences, and so on), showing how ballistic the former prime minister intends to go in his fighting the 20 Year's War against the Italian judiciary, which is guilty of having anticipated the appeal hearings, (allegedly) in order to avoid any risk of statute of limitations that might influence some of the charges in September.

Mr Berlusconi's entourage – amongst them the newspaper's editor Allesandro Sallusti - obviously counted on the fact that the media tycoon would by saved by the bell (namely the statue of limitation).

Berlusconi will stand for prime minister (again?) if Bersani rejections of a large coalition leads to new elections

Saturday, 13 April, 2013. During a gathering in Bari, Silvio Berlusconi said he will run for prime minister for a fifth time if a a new election will be held following the centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani rejects forming a government with him.

The role of the saviour of the fatherland is Silvio Berlusconi's favourite, and he is trying to impersonate it again, as Italy keeps on wasting time trying to muddle up with its disgraceful state without a government, two months after general election created three hostile and feckless blocs.

Silvio, Silvio, Silvio!

In the months before February general election, the former prime minister first said goodbye to political life, than decided he had to stay, but – he said – without running for office. At least not as premier, at the most as minister of Economy.

Well, now things seems to have changed again, as Silvio has realised that without him Italy will be just going to the dogs. So he decided to seek office as a PM for the fifth time. Roberto Benigni is not going to like it...

Berlusconi at odds with Francesca Pascale?

Tuesday, 9 April, 2013. Meeting up with political opponents Enrico Letta and Pier Luigi Bersani (in order to find a common path for the election of the new head of state of Italy) Silvio Berlusconi finds time to complain about his girlfriend Francesca Pascale's attitudes.

The photo published by the newspaper Libero (real or fake?)

It might be quite unusual for Silvio Berlusconi to meet up with adversaries (especially when they are old wily communists, like Pier Luigi Bersani), but for sure it is unprecedented for the former prime minister of Italy to take it out on his beloved Neapolitan girlfriend (their engagement was made public last December) with them.

Yet that's exactly what happened, according to the right-wing newspaper Libero, as the presidente of the People of Liberty party (PdL) decided to have a chat with two of the Democratic Party's (PD) leaders, about how to get to vote for successor to the president of Italy Giorgio Napolitano without any squabble (if possible).