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11/30/13

Italy: Berlusconi vows to fight after being thrown out of the Senate

Berlusoni lost his seat in the Senate because he was convicted of tax fraud. His supporters call it "the end of democracy" and Berlusconi himself wants to appeal the court ruling.

On Wednesday (27.11.2013) 192 senators ousted Berlusconi in a public vote. But he shows no signs of resignation or capitulation. On the contrary, with his lips defiantly pressed together and bigger shoulder pads than ever Berlusconi meets the press to lament the outrageousness of the procedure. Although in a democratic system it is not uncommon that a convicted criminal has to leave office.

But Italian democracy is different, especially in the case of Berlusconi. He knew that he is not invincible but he did not want to believe it. And still his sense of reality is clouded. There has to be a revision of his process because there is "new evidence" for his innocence, he said. He called the demonstrations of his supporters in Rome just the beginning of his fight to return to politics.

He even wants to become prime minister again. His party "Forza Italia" demands new elections and wants Berlusconi as its frontrunner.

But the 77-year-old is not allowed to run for parliament in the next six years, according to a law from December 31, 2012, which the representatives of his party also voted for. Berlusconi wants to follow Pepe Grillo's example. The former comedian leads his Five-Star-Movement without haveing a seat in parliament.

Note EU-Digest: Italy probably has better things to do then to waste its time any further with Berlusconi.

Read more: Berlusconi vows to fight after being thrown out of the Senate | Europe | DW.DE | 28.11.2013

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