European Court takes step toward judgment in Berlusconi case
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The European Court of Human Rights has taken a first step toward issuing a judgment over the treatment of Italy's flamboyant ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who was ousted from parliament in 2013 following a tax fraud conviction.
In a three-paragraph statement issued Monday, the Strasbourg, France-based court said it asked the Italian government whether the decision to strip Berlusconi of his senatorial seat amounted to retroactive punishment.
The three-term premier spent years fighting allegations of corruption stemming from his media interests. He was ousted from parliament following a 2012 law that prevents anyone sentenced to more than two years from holding or running for public office for at least six years.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Court official Lavinia Bucurenciu says Italy's government has 16 weeks to respond. Any judgment would come later.