ITALY: Berluisconi charged with corruption

Before Silvio Berlusconi became prime minister of Italy, the Economist, with unusual bluntness, said he was unfit for the job. Since then, his behavior has justified WAISers' fears about media magnates. Reuters (5/26/03) said he had opened the way for parliament to provide him legal immunity as his corruption trial in Milan hangs in the balance. But in an uncompromising television performance, Berlusconi made it clear he was not planning to shelter under immunity until the corruption trial blows over. Instead, the media magnate turned right wing politician implicated some of his center left critics in graft scandals of their own, singling out European Commission President Romano Prodi, a former Italian prime minister, for special attack. "Samson-like, Berlusconi is ready to bring down the roof on his enemies," La Stampa (5/23/03) commented , referring to the blinded Biblical strongman. Berlusconi announced that he would support a draft law that offered legal immunity to Italy's top five political and institutional leaders -- dropping a previous demand that the bill be extended to cover all parliamentarians. Opposition politicians had promised to fight any broad immunity, accusing Berlusconi of trying to save his friend and political ally Cesare Previti, who is also standing trial alongside the prime minister on charges of bribing judges.

Ronald Hilton - 5/27/03