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Berlusconi cheers "bunga bunga" court victory despite bitterness, plunges ahead with politics

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012 file photo former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi smiles as he arrives at Milan's central train station, Italy. Italy's highest court has upheld Silvio Berlusconi's acquittal in his notorious "bunga bunga" case, giving the former premier a welcome victory as he tries to rally his Forza Italia party ahead of regional elections in May. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (The Associated Press)

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    Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, center, waves to supporters as he arrives at his residence of Palazzo Grazioli in Rome, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Berlusconi savored his court victory in the infamous "bunga-bunga" case Wednesday by plunging headfirst into politics, saying he's working for a better Italy even though he remains barred from public office. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

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    Supporters of former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi expose a banner reading in Italian "Go Silvio" in front of Palazzo Grazioli, the residence of Berlusconi, in Rome, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Berlusconi savored his court victory in the infamous "bunga-bunga" case Wednesday by plunging headfirst into politics, saying he's working for a better Italy even though he remains barred from public office. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

ROME – Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is savoring his court victory in the infamous "bunga-bunga" case and plunging ahead with politics, saying he's working for a better Italy, even though he remains barred from public office.

Late Tuesday, Italy's highest court confirmed Berlusconi's acquittal on charges he paid an underage Moroccan prostitute for sex and then used his influence to cover it up. The ruling closed an embarrassing chapter for the media mogul, exposing the raunchy parties at his Milan mansion, complete with showgirl strip-teases.

In a statement Wednesday, Berlusconi cheered the decision but expressed bitterness "for a case that did a lot of damage not just to me, my family and other innocent people, but to all Italians, our public life and the image of our country in the world."