Berlusconi: new trial for bribing senators, in quite a few occasions

Wednesday, 12 February 2014. A new investigation began today in Naples, regarding a few circumstances in which Berlusconi might gave offered money and other benefits to senators who would cast a favourable vote for the ex-prime minister.

Corruption what? 

There were a few situations in which Italian senators from a number of political sides took a last minute decision and turned against the will of their parties and voted in favour of Mr Berlusconi, and these circumstances sounded a bit fishy to some judges in Naples, who decided to investigate them. At least that's what we've learned from the news.

All this could cause new headaches to the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has already been sentenced for tax fraud, is currently appealing against a prison sentence for having sex with an under-age prostitute and abuse of office (and the proceedings are now contiuing on the grouds that witnesses might have been bribed by Berlusconi), and was kicked out of the Senate of Italy (due to the first conviction).

Berlusconi shows his new look, with wrinkles and all

Sunday, 26 January 2014. In order to differentiate himself from his young opponent Matteo Renzi, Silvio Berlusconi is switching to a new look. An older one.

Berlusconi as shown by the Sunday Times

For decades Silvio Berlusconi has been labouring on his external appearance, in order to look younger than he actually is (he turned 77 on 29 September 2013), by means of hair transplant, face lifting, changing his headgear into something newer and pictures tweaking.

He thus created a well known persona: the youthful, women lover, brilliant entrepreneur, who adores to enjoy life and organising bunga-bunga parties in his Arcore's villa, who has a girlfriend - Francesca Pascale - 50 years his junior (but many other girls boasted of having a relationship with Berlusconi, like show-girl Nicole Minetti and Miss Montenegro Katarina Knezevic).

Berlusconi faces new investigations in prostitution case (and he's not happy)

Thursday, 23 January 2014. Silvio Berlusconi – who has already been given a 7-year sentence – risks to get more as prosecutors investigate over accusations he and his lawyers corrupted witnesses of the sex scandal trial.

The investigations over the alleged prostitution ring set by Mr Berlusconi aren't finished yet, we are now in the so-called phase three  - according to the news -, aka Rubygate ter or Rubygate 3.0 (the name originates from Ruby the Heartstealer, the nom de guerre – the real name is Karima El Mahroug - of the girl who apparently had sex with the politician when still a teenager).

Silvio Berlusconi faces yet another investigation linked to the bunga-bunga sex scandal

The two previous spells of the proceedings were pretty disastrous for the former prime minister and his friends... With the first episode of the sex scandal trial, Berlusconi won a 7-year sentence (child prostitution and abuse of office), with the second stint – the Ruby-bis - it was his protégé Nicole Minetti and one of his friends and employee Emilio Fede who received a conviction. 7 years apiece, details in our post (click here to read it).