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Italy Senate votes on expelling Berlusconi from parliament Italy Senate to vote on expelling Silvio Berlusconi
(about 11 hours later)
The Italian Senate will vote later on whether to expel former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament over his conviction for tax fraud. The Italian Senate is debating whether to expel ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament over his conviction for tax fraud.
Analysts say a large majority of senators is expected to back his expulsion. Analysts say his expulsion is expected to be backed by a majority of senators.
The former PM has called for supporters to protest in Rome against what he says is a political vendetta. Supporters of the former PM gathered in Rome to protest against what he says is a political vendetta.
The vote comes a day after Berlusconi withdrew his Forza Italia party from the coalition government. Berlusconi withdrew his Forza Italia party from the ruling coalition on Tuesday, but the government survived a confidence vote and passed the budget.
Biased 'Defend democracy'
The ex-premier, who has dominated politics for nearly two decades in Italy, had asked senators to delay the vote on his expulsion because he claims to have new evidence proving he did not commit tax fraud. The debate in the Senate has been heated, with two rival senators nearly coming to blows.
However, the vote is expected to go ahead on Wednesday evening. Manuela Ripetti of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party shouted: "Your only aim is to eliminate Silvio Berlusconi!"
He threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue earlier this year but backed down during a confidence vote. Berlusconi, who has dominated politics for nearly two decades in Italy, had asked senators to delay the vote on his expulsion because he claims to have new evidence proving he did not commit tax fraud.
However, the vote is expected to go ahead on Wednesday evening. A simple majority of the 321 senators will determine the vote.
Berlusconi's supporters have gathered outside his Rome residence, stringing up a banner that read: "It's a coup."
Another placard read: "The Cavaliere (Berlusconi's nickname) is a martyr of freedom".
One supporter told Reuters: "It is disgusting what they have done. You can just see how the left-wing operate, it is just terrible. How can you kick a person out after 20 years?"
Berlusconi said the protest would be "only the beginning" and has vowed further steps to "defend democracy".
The former PM had threatened to topple the coalition government earlier this year but backed down during a confidence vote when it was clear he would not get the support needed.
The 77-year old has dismissed the Senate, which is dominated by his political opponents, as biased against him.The 77-year old has dismissed the Senate, which is dominated by his political opponents, as biased against him.
Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films. The verdict was upheld in August.Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films. The verdict was upheld in August.
Expulsion from parliament may lead to Berlusconi's arrest over other criminal cases, as he would lose his immunity from prosecution. Expulsion from parliament, where he has sat since 1994, may lead to Berlusconi's arrest over other criminal cases, as he would lose his immunity from prosecution.
He will have to serve a one-year sentence for his tax conviction, probably under house arrest or by doing community service because of his age.He will have to serve a one-year sentence for his tax conviction, probably under house arrest or by doing community service because of his age.
He has also been convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and of a breach of confidentiality over a police wiretap. He is appealing against both convictions.He has also been convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and of a breach of confidentiality over a police wiretap. He is appealing against both convictions.
Both Prime Minister Enrico Letta's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and former comedian Beppe Grillo's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement have said they will vote against Berlusconi. Both Prime Minister Enrico Letta's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and Beppe Grillo's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement have said they will vote against Berlusconi.
Mr Letta's government survived a confidence vote on the 2014 budget on Tuesday with the help of a group of dissidents who broke away from Berlusconi's party earlier this month. Michele Giarusso, of the 5-Star Movement, said: "Now our country can start to become a normal country where everyone is equal under the law and not where one person thinks they should be above the law."
Berlusconi had said earlier that his party would vote against the budget, and the Forza Italia leader in the lower house soon declared that the party was moving into opposition. Mr Letta's government survived a confidence vote on the 2014 budget on Tuesday with the help of a group of dissidents who broke away from Berlusconi's party this month.
The latest developments cast a further shadow over Italy's struggling economy, the eurozone's third-largest.The latest developments cast a further shadow over Italy's struggling economy, the eurozone's third-largest.
It is feared the political tensions could further hamper efforts to bring in badly-needed reforms to tackle Italy's economic problems, including debt, recession and high youth unemployment.It is feared the political tensions could further hamper efforts to bring in badly-needed reforms to tackle Italy's economic problems, including debt, recession and high youth unemployment.