Rome: Italian senators on Wednesday expelled three-time former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament due to his criminal conviction for tax fraud, in a momentous round of voting.
“The conclusions of the committee on elections have been approved, abolishing the election of senator Silvio Berlusconi,” Senate speaker Pietro Grasso said.
Silvio Berlusconis children rallied around their father on Wednesday after he was expelled from the Italian Senate in a humiliating coda to his 20-year parliamentary career.
His eldest, Marina, who heads the family’s holding company Fininvest, and Pier Silvio, deputy chairman of Berlusconi’s media empire Mediaset, both issued angry press releases.”
This country and this democracy should be ashamed of what my father is suffering,” said Marina, 47, who has denied persistent rumours that she could succeed Berlusconi.
“My father is no longer a senator but today’s vote will certainly not affect his leadership,” she said, adding that the expulsion was “a stain that will weigh on our history”.
Pier Silvio, 44, said he was “deeply hurt” by the vote.”I know who my father really is and above all what he has done for Italian businesses and for our country,” he said.
The 77-year-old Berlusconi, a three-time former prime minister, left his Rome residence shortly after the vote for his villa near Milan, to be with his family.
Marina and Pier Silvio are both children from Berlusconi’s first wife, Carla DallOglio. Barbara Berlusconi, 29, the eldest child from his second marriage to Veronica Lario, also voiced her anger at the Senate ejection.
“With my fathers violent expulsion his political rivals think they have an easy road to power,” she said.
“This is a political operation that will come back to haunt those who have carried it out,” she added.
Berlusconis children rarely take part in his political activities and manage his vast business holdings — from television and publishing to the AC Milan football club.
There has long been speculation that they could follow their father’s footsteps into politics, although Berlusconi himself on Wednesday vowed to fight on.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription