Silvio Berlusconi

Milan's court acquitted Berlusconi of the allegation that he had bribed participants in the Arcore parties to lie during the Ruby proceedings.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Berlusconi was sentenced at first instance to three years for corruption in connection with a payment of three million euros to former senator Sergio De Gregorio to change political allegiance. The appeal court declared the matter time-barred and the Court of Cassation confirmed that outcome in 2018.

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Berlusconi was sentenced at first instance in 2013 to seven years for concussione and underage prostitution in the Ruby case, then acquitted on appeal. The Court of Cassation definitively upheld the acquittal in March 2015.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

The Mediaset conviction led to his removal as senator under the Severino Law. In March 2014, the Court of Cassation definitively upheld a two-year ban from public office.

Attribution

Directly implicated

The civil courts definitively found that the battle for control of Mondadori had been distorted by the bribery of Judge Vittorio Metta and ordered Fininvest to pay substantial compensation to CIR.

Berlusconi faced prosecution for judicial corruption in the case involving lawyer David Mills. In February 2012, the court declared the proceedings time-barred.

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Berlusconi's entry into politics while controlling Italy's main private broadcasting group created a lasting conflict of interest. The European Parliament described a unique concentration of economic, political and media power in his hands.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Parties held at Arcore and payments to several young women caused a major personal and political scandal. The Court of Cassation's reasoning treated the existence of prostitution activity at Arcore involving Ruby as established, while acquitting Berlusconi because his knowledge that she was underage had not been established.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Veronica Lario announced her intention to divorce after publicly criticising Berlusconi's association with young women and the selection of entertainment figures as candidates for the European elections, which she considered degrading.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In 2002, Berlusconi publicly criticised journalists Enzo Biagi and Michele Santoro and satirist Daniele Luttazzi; their subsequent removal from RAI was cited by the European Parliament among documented episodes of government pressure on public broadcasting.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

In response to MEP Martin Schulz, Berlusconi declared in the European Parliament that he could recommend him for the role of a guard in a film about Nazi camps, provoking strong protests in the chamber.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

After magistrates halted simultaneous broadcasts by Fininvest networks in several regions, the Craxi government adopted decrees allowing them to continue, a decisive step in establishing the RAI-Fininvest duopoly.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable