site.news_by_theme Silvio Berlusconi

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is in hot water with the justice system again after mocking the community service he has been ordered to do for tax fraud, media reports said.

Italian prosecutors on Thursday approved a request by Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers for the three-time prime minister to do community service rather than face house arrest following a tax fraud conviction.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Wednesday won a parliamentary confidence vote triggered by the fall of Silvio Berlusconi, promising to push through a pro-European reform agenda and fight populism.

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi abandoned his bid to topple Enrico Letta's government in a humiliating climbdown after key allies rebelled against his leadership.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is tipped to win a nail-biting parliamentary confidence vote Wednesday which would deal a major blow to Silvio Berlusconi but could leave Italy more frail than ever.

Lawmakers from Silvio Berlusconi's party threatened late Wednesday to resign en bloc if a senate committee votes to oust the former prime minister from parliament over a tax fraud conviction.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has warned against instability as a parliamentary committee prepares for a debate starting Monday on Silvio Berlusconi's expulsion from the Senate following his criminal conviction.

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi said Sunday the government "must forge ahead" amid high tension on the political scene after he was handed his first definitive conviction by the country's highest court.

Italy's ex-leader Silvio Berlusconi has lost his final appeal against a tax fraud sentence in a ruling that jolted the political establishment on Friday but left the government in place for now.

Italy's top court begins crucial hearings for former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday that will decide whether to confirm a one-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from politics.

An Italian court is expected to deliver its verdict Monday on whether former premier Silvio Berlusconi paid for sex with an underage prostitute and abused his official powers.

Silvio Berlusconi affirmed over the weekend his centre-right movement's loyalty to the grand coalition government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta at a rally in a northern city which attracted noisy support and dissent.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi said he could consider supporting a candidate for president from his rivals on the left but only on condition that they form a grand coalition government with him.

Silvio Berlusconi hosted a "prostitution system" at his villa near Milan, where he paid women for sex with cash and favours.

Former premier Silvio Berlusconi vowed Sunday to refund the money Italians have had to fork out for an unpopular property tax if his coalition wins this month's elections.

Carnival workers in central Italy dusted off their Silvio Berlusconi masks and put the finishing touches to an anti-austerity float.

Italy's gaffe-prone former premier Silvio Berlusconi sparked outrage Sunday with remarks praising wartime dictator Benito Mussolini despite Il Duce's persecution of Jews and allowing thousands to be deported to Auschwitz.

Former premier Silvio Berlusconi's zealous campaigning is closing the gap between the centre-right and left a month before the Italian general elections.

Italy's indefatigable former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi appeared on television Tuesday for the third time in as many days to vow a return to political life.

Italy was preparing prepared for early elections Sunday after Prime Minister Mario Monti said he would soon resign and Silvio Berlusconi announced he would run for the top job for the sixth time in two decades.