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Italian Senate divided upon PM Berlusconi's judicial shield ruling


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Italian Senate divided upon PM Berlusconi's judicial shield ruling

2011-01-14 10:26:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

ROME, ITALY (BNO NEWS) -- The Italian Senate was divided on Thursday over the ruling of the Constitutional Court that partially declared a judicial shield that has protected Premier Silvio Berlusconi as illegitimate, the ANSA news agency reported.

The ruling was hailed by leftist opponents and slammed by Berlusconi's supporters. Demonstrators from an anti-Berlusconi movement were reported to be celebrating outside the court.

The so-called legitimate impediment law impeded the Prime Minister from attending hearings regarding three trials against him. The judicial procedures were blocked and thus impeding the hearings.

The Court's ruling will now dismantle the overall framework of the immunity law and will allow judges to assess on a case-by-case basis whether PM Berlsuconi should attend the hearings.

Former Milan prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro said that the referendum approved on Wednesday will force Berlusconi to attend hearings and face his accusers when called by judges in his three trials.

However, the ruling government continues to support Berlusconi. Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini said that the premier continues to be the victim of a persecution by certain politicized prosecutors.

Last December, Berlusconi's government was in the balance as Italian lawmakers voted on a non-confidence motion due to recent scandals and infighting. However, Berlusconi was ratified in the two confidence votes in the Senate.

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-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-14

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