Berlusconi Vows to Serve Out Term Despite Corruption Allegations

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi insists he will complete his five-year term in office, despite a Milan judge's accusation that he was "coresponsible" for bribing a judge nearly 20 years ago to block a business rival from acquiring the Mondadori publishing house. Berlusconi's government has been weakened by scandals over his private life, and the latest accusation has put the focus on his business dealings and influence over Italian media. Berlusconi is also suing a left-leaning newspaper, La Repubblica, for libel over its reporting of his relationship with a teenage model and allegations he hosted prostitutes at private parties.

Key Takeaways:

• Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister and billionaire media mogul, insists he will serve out his full five-year term despite allegations of corruption.
• A Milan judge accused Berlusconi of being "coresponsible" for bribing a judge nearly 20 years ago to block a business rival from acquiring the Mondadori publishing house.
• The accusation might not carry immediate legal consequences for Berlusconi, but it puts the focus on his business dealings and influence over Italian media.
• Berlusconi's government has been weakened by scandals over his private life, including a lawsuit against a left-leaning newspaper, La Repubblica, for libel.
• The Milan judge's accusation is connected to a 1991 court ruling in which Fininvest, a company owned by Berlusconi, won a battle to take over Mondadori.
• The damages in the case are set at €750m (approximately £690m), with Fininvest planning to appeal and seek to have the damages suspended.
• Berlusconi's lawyer, Cesare Previti, was convicted of bribing a judge in the 1991 case in 2007, but Berlusconi himself was cleared of responsibility.
• Italy's constitutional court is expected to begin deliberating on whether immunity from prosecution given to Berlusconi by an act of parliament last year was in accordance with the constitution.

Statistics:

• €750m: the damages ordered by the Milan court to be paid by Fininvest, a company owned by Silvio Berlusconi, to CIR, a media group owned by Carlo De Benedetti.
• £690m: the equivalent of €750m in pounds sterling.
• 1991: the year in which the court ruling in the case involving Mondadori was made.
• 20 years: the length of time since the bribery allegations took place.
• 2007: the year in which Cesare Previti, Silvio Berlusconi's lawyer, was convicted of bribing a judge in the 1991 case.
• 5 years: the length of Silvio Berlusconi's term as prime minister.

Sources:

• [No specific source mentioned in the text]