Italy’s top court on Thursday confirmed a prison sentence for former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in his first ever definitive conviction, which could upset the country’s fragile coalition government.
The court upheld a sentence for tax fraud of four years in prison of which three are covered by an amnesty, even though Berlusconi is certain to be granted community service or house arrest instead.
The Senate will have to vote to lift Berlusconi’s immunity before the sentence can be implemented — a process that could take weeks or even months.
A roar went up from a small group of anti-Berlusconi campaigners gathered outside the courtroom in central Rome as news of the ruling filtered through.
One elated activist uncorked a bottle of champagne and held up an image showing the scandal-tainted magnate behind bars reading: “This is how we want Berlusconi”.
At a rally of Berlusconi supporters near his luxury residence in Rome, activists lowered their flags and stopped their chants of “Silvio, Silvio!”
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