Berlusconi and the trial over the obscure bribing

Tue, 19 March, 2013. Neapolitan tribunal rejects “immediate judgement” in latest Silvio Berlusconi's proceedings for bribing members of the Senate of Italy, following the “Operazione Libertà” inquiry.

Sergio De Gregorio, unintentional target of a bribery?

“Operazione Libertà” (“Operation Freedom”) was the name that - back in 2006 and 2007 - Silvio Berlusconi gave to a series of actions taken in order to “acquire” politicians from the Romano Prodi led left-wing coalition and bring to an end the Prodi II Cabinet, basically a bunch of Communists (as Silvio would put it, and actually a few parties of the coalition did have the “Communist” word in their name).

During the “Operation Freedom”, some of the Senators from IdV (former magistrate Antonio “Tonino” Di Pietro's movement, “Italia dei Valori”, in English: “Italy of values”) – Antonio Razzi, Domenico Scilipoti and Sergio De Gregorio – switched side and became staunch defenders of Silvio Berlusconi (some of them up to his resignation in 2011).

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”.