Cogito Ergo Non Serviam

Berlusconi Sentenced to Community Service on Tax Charge

Former Prime Minister and Italian oligarch Silvio Berlusconi finally received a sentence for his many convictions. This is the first time that the Italian legal system (one can't call it a justice system) has managed to get a sentence pronounced on him. For the crime of tax fraud, the 77-year-old will serve community service for a year. The service will consist of one-half day per week at a retirement home. Sad laughter is the appropriate response.

The alternative was house arrest, which would be rather cushy given that Mr. Berlusconi has no fewer than 7 houses. Each is valued in the millions of euros. However, his lawyers argued against that and for community service as a more "balanced" sentence. He was actually sentenced to 4 years, but in a general amnesty, this was reduced to 1 year. There is a chance at could be further reduced to 45 days.

The three-time prime minister is also banned from leaving the Lombard region where he lives, but he is allowed to travel to Rome Tuesday to Thursday each week. Most importantly, he is forbidden to run in the upcoming European elections, and he is limited in what he can do even as head for Forza Italia, his rightist political bloc.

Despite the sentencing, he remains a force in Italian politics. Right before the sentence was handed down, he met with the new Italian PM, Matteo Renzi. Mr. Renzi needs Mr. Berlusconi's support in the legislature to alter the constitution. Mr. Renzi wants to abolish the Italian senate (something Caesar Augustus never dared do). "We are in a surreal situation because the person convicted is part of a political pact with the government," said Giuliano Ferraro, editor of il Foglio and Berlusconi supporter. One can easily imagine some kind of sentence reduction as part of any pact.

Despite the leverage he maintains, Mr. Berlusconi's legal troubles may not be at an end. Colleen Barry of the Associated Press noted, "The media mogul is on trial for political corruption in Naples and under investigation in Milan for witness tampering in trials relating to sex-fueled parties at his villa near Milan. His appeals trial for a conviction for having paid for sex with a minor and using his influence to cover it up is scheduled to open in June. He was sentenced to seven years in jail and given a lifetime political ban, but that has yet to be confirmed." In other words, there is a chance Italy might finally rid itself of him

Mr. Berlusconi is probably the worst thing to happen to Italy since the Red Brigade terrorists of the 1970s. He is a corrupt fellow who has never hesitated to abuse the political system to further enrich himself (he is the richest man in the nation). He has gone so far as to amend the constitution to give himself immunity from prosecution during his tenure as PM. If there is a stronger argument against the power of money in a democracy, one cannot think of it.

© Copyright 2014 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.



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