Berlusconi judged by a holiday tribunal

Tuesday, 30 July 2013. In order to avoid statute of limitations, a holiday tribunal is going to judge Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset tax fraud case.

Silvio Berlusconi; they might get me, at last...

Berlusconi's tax evasion case is the eighth proceeding to be dealt with by the Sezione feriale della Cassazione (Cassation's Holiday Section? Beachwear instead of gowns? Nicole Minetti could be interested in taking part to it...), starting today.

Why did the court decide to rule about this case in the middle of summer? It is made on purpose – say Berlusconi's lawyers – to make sure that the statute of limitation that won't declare null and void the case (or a part of it) in September. Good point.

Berlusconi and the constitutional court

Wed, 19 June, 2013. Silvio Berlusconi risks of being booted out of politics for good, as he loses appeal to the constitutional court in relation with Mediaset tax fraud trial.

The so-called Mediaset trial has been lingering on for more than 10 years (Wikipedia provides quite an extensive picture over Berlusconi's trials and allegations, click here to check this out).

Will Silvio end up in handcuffs?

the list of people involved is pretty long - a fair share of the Berlusconi family is in it, like Silvio's children Marina Berlusconi and Piersilvio Berlusconi – but it's the head of the family who has more to lose, since he could end up banned from holding public office, if things turn nasty.

Silvio Berlusconi and the spread-scam used to try to bring down a majority government elected by the Italians

Monday, December 10, 2012. Taking part in Canale 5's “La Telefonata” (“The Phone Call”) TV programme, Silvio Berlusconi explains to the Italians that Italy's bond yield difference with Germany's Bunds is a scam they should not worry about.

Berlusconi with alleged girlfriend Francesca Pascale

Canale 5 ("Channel 5") is a television network controlled by Berlusconi's Mediaset broadcasting company, Maurizio Belpietro is a staunch defender of the Italian Prime Minister candidate arguably the best place to address to the Italians (at least to those who aren't at work, in that time in the morning) in order to lure them to vote, once again, for the billionaire.

Belpietro - former editor of Berlusconi's Il Giornale newspaper - is the host of the La Telefonata ("The Phone Call"), a 10-minute-long TV programme where he gets a phone call, as the show title hints. Today the Italian Silvio telephoned. La Telefonata is on air at 8:40 (GTM 7:40)

“Let's stop talking about this scam!” stated this morning Il Cavaliere's voice, “one year ago nobody heard about the word “spread” he continued “that was used to try to bring down a majority government elected by the Italians”.

“Behind the crisis there has been a German strategy” Berlusconi added, and Prime Minister Mario Monti is beholden to Germany. Monti replaced Berlusconi as Italy's Prime minister in November 2011, when the spread between Italy's bond yield and Germany's Bunds reached a euro-era record of 575.6 basis points.

He knows what is needed

The way for Italy's salvation is through the restoration Forza Italia (Go Italy!), the party that Silvio Berlusconi created in 1994 when he "entered the field" the first time, its alliance with the Lega Nord (Northern League) led by Robert Maroni (in the meanwhile Berlusconi friend Umberto Bossi was swept away by a corruption scandal) and – most probably – the separation from the National Alliance party.

After the PdL withdraw it's support for Monti's government and the former European Commissioner declared his willingness to resign as soon as, general elections are expected to be held either Feb. 17 or Feb. 24 (about a month before originally planned).

Is Italy back to square one, or it just sounds like that?

Silvio Berlusconi and the end?

Friday, October 26, 2012. Few days after Silvio Berlusconi stated that he will not stand as a prime minister candidate in 2013 elections, a tribunal sentences the tycoon for tax fraud (just in case).

Is it the endo or just another chapter that unfolds?

“For the love of Italy” said Berlusconi a couple of days ago “I will not be presenting my candidacy”, referring to next year Italian elections, but he will remain at the side of younger politicians. Many people did not take the statement seriously, knowing the ability of Silvio Berlusconi in creating dramatic moments and comebacks. “I don't believe it” declared Berlusconi's former friend Umberto Bossi, whilst Romano Prodi long-lasting adversary said “You can never tell, wait before writing down the headlines”.