Berlusconi expelled from Italy's Senate for good

Thursday, 28 November 2013. Voting 9 times “no” during an emotional meeting of Italy's Senate, Italian senators give way to Berlusconi's expulsion from the Italian Parliament, after tax fraud conviction.

Berlusconi is a «political prisoner» of the Red Brigades (hinting at leftists judges), according to his fans

The Senate of Italy was pretty crowded yesterday, even though one of the famously habitual absentee – Silvio Berlusconi – was absent.

Perhaps he meant to boycott the sitting, but since he is never present, no-one noticed that.

On the agenda nine votes, all related to the media tycoon turned into politician and his judicial woes. Mr Berlusconi somehow keeps on being the major issue of the country.

Forza Italia party's members held a series of speeches, trying to convince the chairman of the Senate to delay the vote, or at least to make it secret (hoping to get a few voters on their side, by hook or by crook), or just to whine about the endless wickedness of the left, but Mr Grasso was rocky and no-one seemed to be impressed much.

In the meanwhile the disgraced Berlusconi was in front of his residence in Rome, palazzo Grazioli, staging a protest and haranguing against the “political assassination” under way in another palace, the palazzo Madama, home to the Senate of the Italian Republic. 

Allegedly 5-6 thousand people had gathered to support Silvio in his longest day, arriving with 300 coaches (it might indicate that the buses where half empty, if the numbers are correct).

Quoting the anthem of the country “Fratelli d'Italia” (“Brothers of Italy”), Berlusconi - Arcore's JFK, as Il Giornale called him few days ago - asked his supporters whether they where “ready for death” and they gave an affirmative answer, even though it did not sound very convincing.

Fellow senators congratulates with Anna Maria Bernini for nice mourning dress and staunch defence of Forza Italia's leader, former prime minister and former senator Silvio Berlusconi

The crowd brandished signs saying that a coup d'etat was being stage, that Berlusconi was a political prisoner (with Italian terrorist group “Brigate Rosse” - “Red Brigades” – symbol, a 5-pointed-star in the background, to make it clear that the communists are guilty for that), and so on. “A day of mourning for democracy” declared Silvio Berlusconi after his defiant speech, and to emphasise that he and four other women members of Forza Italia (among them the fascinating Anna Maria Bernini, star of the day, displayed on TV and cosseted by fellow senators, as staunchly defended her boss) where already wearing black dresses.

Silvio's daughter Marina Berlusconi said that “he was stripped of his seat in the Senate, but he is still a leader”. And Berlusconi's girlfriend (or wife, since rumours has it they secretly married) Francesca Pascale came in his aid, and said that she would like to meet Pope Francis and make him “hear Berlusconi's story”.

Otherwise it was a pretty ordinary day in today's Italy, even though it will prove to be a really historical one. Next appointment: the new episode of the bunga bunga parties' sex scandal, most possibly.