Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi (click here) has begged senators not to kick him out of parliament, claiming new evidence proves he did not commit tax fraud, in a last-ditch bid to stave off a vote that could keep him out of public office for years.
Berlusconi claimed that new statements from 12 witnesses and 15,000 pages of documentation from Hong Kong prove he is innocent - even though his tax fraud trial is over and his guilty verdict has been upheld by Italy's highest court.
Berlusconi wrote to senators from the centre-left Democratic Party and populist Five Star Movement 48 hours before the Senate is due to vote on whether to kick him out of parliament because of the conviction.
He said Italy's democracy is at stake with the vote....
That is not the best part. The best part is the President of Russia pays a visit to Pope Francis and then visits with a racketeer afterward. Berlusconi is a bad habit that never goes away. He keeps turning up like a bad penny. More excuses than anyone ever thought possible. It is time he simply goes away.
That is not the best part. The best part is the President of Russia pays a visit to Pope Francis and then visits with a racketeer afterward. Berlusconi is a bad habit that never goes away. He keeps turning up like a bad penny. More excuses than anyone ever thought possible. It is time he simply goes away.
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 26 November, 2013, 9:44pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 26 November, 2013, 9:44pm
Russian president Vladimir Putin (click here) had a hectic first day in Rome, going from the pope to a Pussy Riot protest to dinner at the palatial home of his old friend, Silvio Berlusconi.
Putin showed off his religious side during his visit to the Vatican on Monday, stopping to cross himself and kiss an icon of the Madonna that he gave Pope Francis. But Moscow's improving relations with the Vatican only went so far: Putin didn't invite Francis to visit.
After the 35-minute audience, Putin went across town to pay a courtesy call on Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. A few dozen people protesting against Russia's detention of two members of punk band Pussy Riot tried to block his motorcade.
He managed to get through, and then arrived at former prime minister Berlusconi's Palazzo Grazioli....
