Italy: Silvio Berlusconi step closer to expulsion from Italy Senate

Supporters of Silvio Berlusconi have lost an Italian Senate committee vote, bringing his expulsion from parliament a step closer.

Allies of the former prime minister and convicted fraudster had tried to block his disqualification from public office, but this was voted down.

Earlier, Berlusconi vowed to stay in politics even if he was expelled.

There had been fears his supporters could topple the ruling coalition over the issue.

According to a 2012 anti-corruption law, Berlusconi should be ejected from the upper house after the supreme court last month upheld his fraud conviction.

The decision will now need to be confirmed by a vote of the full Senate next month.
The expulsion process will now go ahead and in the coming weeks Berlusconi is very likely to be formally barred from holding public office
Read more: BBC News - Silvio Berlusconi step closer to expulsion from Italy Senate