ITALY: Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi defended himself from corruption charges in a crowded courtroom yesterday, taking the stand for the last time before parliament was due to vote for an immunity Bill and freeze the trial.
Regularly dabbing sweat from his brow in the sweltering chamber, Mr Berlusconi ridiculed accusations that he bribed judges in a 1980s corporate takeover battle, and said his detractors were only interested in wrecking his reputation.
"There is no evidence, no proof or testimony and there is no motive," he said, receiving a mix of cheers and boos from onlookers as he ended his defiant, 70-minute statement.
It was only his second appearance at the three-year-old trial. He will not have to return for the foreseeable future if, as expected, parliament approves a bill today shielding him from prosecution while he remains in high office.
The Prime Minister's allies are rushing the immunity package into law at near record speed in a bid to prevent a potentially devastating verdict from falling during Italy's six-month EU presidency, which starts on July 1st.
"One citizen is equal to another (in the eyes of the law), but perhaps this one is slightly more equal than the rest given that 50 per cent of Italians have given him the responsibility to govern the country," said Mr Berlusconi, referring to himself.
The Prime Minister had hoped to avoid the embarrassment of having to testify yesterday, but he was forced into court by fears that in his absence the prosecution would have had time to recommend a prison term before the immunity law was approved. Prosecutors last month sought terms of up to 11 years, four months for other defendants in the same case.
The trial centres on accusations that Mr Berlusconi paid off judges to influence the privatisation of food company SME in the 1980s - the most serious graft charges he has yet faced in almost a decade of legal battles tied to his business empire.
Mr Berlusconi denies the charges and says he is the victim of politically motivated, left-wing magistrates. The SME sale was overseen by Mr Romano Prodi, the EU Commission president who was then the head of Italian state industries.
Mr Berlusconi has previously suggested Mr Prodi acted incorrectly in the privatisation, but yesterday he said his position as Prime Minister prevented him from elaborating. "My institutional responsibilities mean that I will have to work with him almost every day during the six-month presidency."
Mr Prodi denies any wrongdoing in the case.
"There are things that I would say if I weren't Prime Minister," Mr Berlusconi added, waving his hands to emphasise his words.
After his speech, which was shown live on state television, the judges adjourned the session until June 25th, aware that the trial will have to be postponed indefinitely once parliament approves the immunity Bill.
Under the terms of the Bill, magistrates will be able to investigate accusations of wrongdoing against Italy's top five institutional figures, including the prime minister and president, but will not be able to bring them to trial. - (Reuters)