untitled design (1)

Learn Italian online

Search

Sentencing Day Nears for Silvio Berlusconi

On April 10th this week, not far off a year since he was convicted of tax fraud, Silvio Berlusconi will be told what his punishment is. He won’t go to prison because Italy’s justice system considers him too old and the crime he committed is not considered serious enough either. What will happen is that […]

Berlusconi to Buy Pompeii

Italy’s culture minister has confirmed that ex-Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is to buy the historic site of Pompeii near Naples in Italy. “Negotiations are at a advanced stage”, said minister Franceschino who went on to state that the sale should be completed by mid-April this year. Full details of the Berlusconi Pompeii purchase deal […]

Berlusconi Desperately Seeks a New Berlusconi

One almost feels sorry for Italy’s colourful, if highly inefficient, allegedly corrupt, ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. He’s lost a lot recently, though most of what he’s lost is his own doing, or perhaps that should be undoing. Berlusconi has lost his seat in Italy’s senate. He’s also lost his passport, and last week, he lost […]

Berlusconi Threatens to Stand in EU Elections

Last week, Silvio Berlusconi’s newly appointed advisor and spokesman Giovanni Toti announced that his master was planning to stand in the forthcoming European elections. The announcement was greeted with much derision in Italy seeing as Berlusconi, on account of a tax fraud conviction, has been banned from standing for election in Italy and for the European […]

Renzi’s Pact with Convict Berlusconi

Last weekend the new leader of Italy’s centre left – Matteo Renzi met up with none other than Silvio Berlusconi. The meeting between Renzi and convicted fraudster Berlusconi caused great consternation and led to much criticism of Renzi. Upon arriving at the meeting, Berlusconi was greeted with heckling, and eggs were hurled at his car, […]

Could Enrico Letta be the Man to Save Italy?

Letta-Italy

Silvio Berlusconi’s insistence on muscling up to the PD/PdL coalition in a last ditch effort to save his political skin may have been just what Italy needed. His withdrawal from the coalition failed spectacularly when his former anointed successor, Angelino Alfano, decided he had enough of Berlusconi and dumped his former leader in favour of […]

Berlusconi is Out of Italy’s Parliament

Berlusconi expulsion vote

The voting was not overly clear, but the result is: Silvio Berlusconi has been expelled from Italy’s senate. The voting: 192 yes votes, 113 no, and 2 abstentions. Last minute attempts were made to delay the vote but the filibustering failed. Despite being stripped of his seat, Berlusconi vowed today in front of his supporters […]

Berlusconi Expulsion Day

Berlusconi expulsion vote

All eyes are on Italy’s senate today to find out whether Silvio Berlusconi, convicted of tax fraud, will be expelled from Italy’s parliament. The issue Berlusconi’s expulsion is being debated, hotly, in Italy’s senate as I write. Italy’s media is devoting much time to coverage of the day’s proceedings and the Berlusconi expulsion vote. Update: […]

Berlusconi’s Last Ditch Attempt to Derail Senate Vote Fails

Berlusconi expulsion vote

On Monday, Silvio Berlusconi attempted to derail Wednesday’s vote on whether to strip him of his senate seat after his tax fraud conviction. The ploy does not appear to have borne fruit, and Berlusconi’s revelations revealed nothing new at all. What Berlusconi claimed, with much, solemnity and oily sincerity, was that seven new witnesses had been […]