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| Italy ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi to face bribery trial | Italy ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi to face bribery trial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Italian ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to stand trial for the alleged bribery of a senator. | Italian ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to stand trial for the alleged bribery of a senator. |
| Berlusconi is accused of paying the left-wing senator 3m euros ($3.9m) to defect to his party in 2006 and help bring down the government. | Berlusconi is accused of paying the left-wing senator 3m euros ($3.9m) to defect to his party in 2006 and help bring down the government. |
| The senator, Sergio De Gregorio, was sentenced to 20 months on Wednesday at a plea bargain hearing in Naples. | The senator, Sergio De Gregorio, was sentenced to 20 months on Wednesday at a plea bargain hearing in Naples. |
| Berlusconi has been embroiled in a number of trials and says he is the victim of a campaign by the judiciary. | Berlusconi has been embroiled in a number of trials and says he is the victim of a campaign by the judiciary. |
| He has denied any wrongdoing in this case. His lawyer, Michele Cerabona, said he was confident about the outcome when the trial starts in February. | |
| Also charged in the latest case is Berlusconi's former aide, Valter Lavitola, who is accused of being an intermediary in the alleged bribe. | Also charged in the latest case is Berlusconi's former aide, Valter Lavitola, who is accused of being an intermediary in the alleged bribe. |
| 'Reprehensible' | 'Reprehensible' |
| The defection of De Gregorio, a senator from Naples, to Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party weakened the government of Romano Prodi, which collapsed in 2008 and triggered elections that returned Berlusconi to power. | The defection of De Gregorio, a senator from Naples, to Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party weakened the government of Romano Prodi, which collapsed in 2008 and triggered elections that returned Berlusconi to power. |
| De Gregorio said on Wednesday: "I urge Silvio Berlusconi to leave the political scene, which would free Italy from a lot of dirt." | De Gregorio said on Wednesday: "I urge Silvio Berlusconi to leave the political scene, which would free Italy from a lot of dirt." |
| He added: "I now believe I behaved in an absolutely reprehensible way and was aiming to bring down the Prodi government as part of a sort of holy war being waged by Berlusconi." | He added: "I now believe I behaved in an absolutely reprehensible way and was aiming to bring down the Prodi government as part of a sort of holy war being waged by Berlusconi." |
| Mr Lavitola appeared at the Naples hearing, telling it that "there is no proof that I could have known that it was money for a bribe. I would have been simply a conduit". | Mr Lavitola appeared at the Naples hearing, telling it that "there is no proof that I could have known that it was money for a bribe. I would have been simply a conduit". |
| Mr Lavitola was placed under investigation in 2011. He left for South America shortly afterwards and was arrested on his return in April 2012. | Mr Lavitola was placed under investigation in 2011. He left for South America shortly afterwards and was arrested on his return in April 2012. |
| Berlusconi's supporters have rallied to his defence. | Berlusconi's supporters have rallied to his defence. |
| PDL lawmaker Daniele Capezzone told Agence France-Presse: "I think Italians fully understand that what has been happening in the past few years is an attack against a political leader who was freely and democratically chosen by millions." | PDL lawmaker Daniele Capezzone told Agence France-Presse: "I think Italians fully understand that what has been happening in the past few years is an attack against a political leader who was freely and democratically chosen by millions." |
| Berlusconi, 77, has faced a series of court cases in recent years. | Berlusconi, 77, has faced a series of court cases in recent years. |
| On Saturday a court in Milan banned him from holding public office for two years, following his conviction in August for tax fraud. | On Saturday a court in Milan banned him from holding public office for two years, following his conviction in August for tax fraud. |
| The ban has still to be voted on in parliament. | The ban has still to be voted on in parliament. |
| A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has also recommended his expulsion from the chamber, which means he will lose his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in a string of criminal cases. | A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has also recommended his expulsion from the chamber, which means he will lose his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in a string of criminal cases. |
| The votes on his expulsion and ban on holding office are expected to take place within the next few weeks. | The votes on his expulsion and ban on holding office are expected to take place within the next few weeks. |
| Berlusconi is currently appealing against convictions for sex with an underage prostitute, abuse of power and leaking confidential information. | Berlusconi is currently appealing against convictions for sex with an underage prostitute, abuse of power and leaking confidential information. |
| Early this month, Berlusconi suffered political humiliation when forced to perform a U-turn in parliament on a confidence vote. | Early this month, Berlusconi suffered political humiliation when forced to perform a U-turn in parliament on a confidence vote. |
| Berlusconi had promised to topple the government of PM Enrico Letta by withdrawing his party's support. | Berlusconi had promised to topple the government of PM Enrico Letta by withdrawing his party's support. |
| But he backed down when it became clear that several of his PDL senators would support the government. | But he backed down when it became clear that several of his PDL senators would support the government. |