Sentence for former Prime Minister of Italy: Berlusconi remains one last trick

Italy's former Prime Minister Berlusconi: What is the ick factor for female voters?

Silvio Berlusconi paid a minor for sex, he has abused his government position to cover up the affair. To this judgment is a court in Milan - Italy's former Prime Minister and sentenced to seven years in prison, but Berlusconi has also taken precautions this time.

Rome - Outside the Milan's Palace of Justice to insult friends and enemies of the accused: "scam" and "Lump" stands against "Communists your pack!" For each yeller there is a camera to send everything live. The media contingent is huge - even though there is not really much to see and also inside the main actors of the spectacle missing.

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Silvio Berlusconi sitting in a bad mood at home, is sure that he is guilty because "they want me to be rid of the political stage".

The rotgelockte Chief Prosecutor, Ilda Bocassinihas left her boss's final appearance and went on vacation. Edmondo Bruti Liberati should make it clear that is not the "Ilda the Red" stands against Berlusconi, but the prosecutor general.

And the nightclub dancer Karima el-Mahroug, "Ruby" and called by the media "Ruby Rubacuori" (such as Ruby Heartbreaker) baptized, it has preferred to stay away.

From 10 clock even the three judges are gone, if only temporarily. They have retreated into consulting room after they had been once again pushed a bundle of papers in his hand, the lawyers of the accused. In it, for the umpteenth time, the Berlusconi version of the story to be assessed.

"Papi" Berlusconi was trying to help

How Silvio Berlusconi tells it, it sounds pathetic. He sat with a dozen young women at dinner at his villa in Arcore, near Milan, and listened as one of them told the "painful history" of her young life. "I was moved," says the "Papi" - as the girls call him. And so the poor little "Ruby" is no longer needed prostitute that he had given her money. A few tens of thousands of euros for a beauty salon. Sex? - "No, never." And confirmed "Ruby", too.

The three judges who come shortly after 17 clock back into the courtroom to announce its verdict , see the story less touching. They have interviewed dozens of witnesses of January 2011, about 400 pages of study protocols and wiretapped conversations are now: The 76-year-old billionaire had with the then underage Moroccan nightclub dancer Karima el-Mahroug had sex in early 2010 and they paid for it.

The story of the alleged granddaughter Mubarak

The second part of the story has different versions. As Ruby on 27 May 2010, about three months, was arrested after their introduction in Arcore on suspicion of theft, the benevolent "Papi" helped out again. For the good of Italy this time he called, although at a state visit to France, on the evening of 23 against the clock personal cabinet chief of the Milan police chief. The was already in bed. "The prime minister said to me," he stated for the record later, "that a girl from North Africa was staying with us, when it was a question of Mubarak's granddaughter and that a Member of Parliament, Ms. Minetti to her would accept."

Then there were more phone calls with members of Berlusconi's escort until the police Upper assured "that the minors will be a representative entrusted". The MPs Minetti was only Berlusconi's dental nurse, then his mistress and was soon seated on Berlusconi's party in the Lombardy regional parliament. She also helped evenings with the organization of the "Bunga Bunga".

He intervened as Berlusconi said, because he had at that time actually believed Ruby was the granddaughter of the then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "I have fear of a situation that would have caused a diplomatic scandal could lead to requested information."

No, the court found that he had the girl brought from police custody, so that there ausplaudere nothing about his "bunga bunga" experiences.For "Ruby" had no papers, but already several theft procedures on the neck. Berlusconi had abused his government position for personal purposes.

Promoting the prostitution of minors and abuse of office

Due to promotion of prostitution of minors and abuse, the court sentenced Silvio Berlusconi to seven years in prison - one year more than prosecutors had requested - and a lifetime ban on holding public office.

Before jail Berlusconi must not fear though for the time being. Anyone who is over 70 years old, does not have the cell in Italy. And also: Today's ruling is the first instance. It is not valid if the convicted person for appeal. Has immediately announced his chief lawyer. Two other instances are from that. Until these have decided the verdict has no direct consequences.

However, anxiety is likely the media mogul and multi Regent have before another judgment, which can catch him in the fall - in the third and final instance. Since it is a fraud with his company Mediaset. And standing next to a forced stay in prison, as in the present judgment Ruby, also a fatal "additional penalty" in space, where the Court of Cassation confirmed the judgments of the lower courts: the exclusion from public office, ie a de facto ban on political activity.

Berlusconi is the worst-case scenario. Not only that hurts him the shame, the end of an inglorious, in his view, glorious career. A forced departure from the political scene would make him and thus make defenseless against the snares of the judiciary, which - as he puts it - is abusing the law as a "weapon of political struggle" against him.

Berlusconi called the ruling "brutal" and announced immediately "resistance" on the other hand. He was "absolutely innocent." "I was convinced to be acquitted because there was absolutely no way for a guilty verdict based on evidence," he said.

The politician accused the three judges in Milan to pursue him. "I have before me to resist the persecution, because I am absolutely innocent, and I will not give up my fight to make Italy a truly free and fair country."

Berlusconi relies on help from the coalition partner Nicoletta

Even now, he continues, the Italian Government under the Social Enrico Letta under pressure. If this does not help him out of trouble, whether the coalition at the end. Because without Berlusconi's party "People of Freedom" had no majority Premier Letta.

Berlusconi would prefer a small, tailored to him law, as indeed some were in his tenure, with the legal tricks to prevent its exclusion policy. Because this is to do with the left hardly, there is a plan B.

A political license revocation by the Court of Cassation would have the Senate - the second chamber of Parliament, Berlusconi has a seat - to be confirmed by secret ballot. This would provide a good chance that enough senators left - unrecognized - vote "No" and save as Berlusconi, Berlusconi whisper emissaries to the coalition partners. Otherwise you would tear everything and put on new elections.

Here comes "Ruby" back into the game and today, legally rather second-rate but politically highly explosive verdict: If many Italian "Bunga Bunga" perhaps quite funny, but find yourself dealing with underage prostitutes rather disgusting or criminal, be now Some might turn away from their heroes. Especially Berlusconi's most loyal clientele, the women, it could blame him. But if Berlusconi's fall election chances, his threat goes with elections into the void. "Fine," the social Letta could then say, "we can choose it!"

Using material from AFP

Credits: spiegel online