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| Italy's Senate expels ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi | Italy's Senate expels ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Italian Senate has voted to expel ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament with immediate effect over his conviction for tax fraud. | The Italian Senate has voted to expel ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament with immediate effect over his conviction for tax fraud. |
| Berlusconi, who has dominated politics for 20 years, could now face arrest over other criminal cases as he has lost his immunity from prosecution. | Berlusconi, who has dominated politics for 20 years, could now face arrest over other criminal cases as he has lost his immunity from prosecution. |
| He told supporters in Rome it was a "day of mourning" for democracy. | He told supporters in Rome it was a "day of mourning" for democracy. |
| Ahead of the vote, he vowed to remain in politics to lead his Forza Italia in a "fight for the good of Italy". | Ahead of the vote, he vowed to remain in politics to lead his Forza Italia in a "fight for the good of Italy". |
| Berlusconi told supporters gathered outside his Rome residence that "no political leader has suffered a persecution such as I have lived through". | Berlusconi told supporters gathered outside his Rome residence that "no political leader has suffered a persecution such as I have lived through". |
| He said: "It is a bitter day, a day of mourning." | He said: "It is a bitter day, a day of mourning." |
| Berlusconi, 77, said his struggle would continue outside parliament. | Berlusconi, 77, said his struggle would continue outside parliament. |
| He said: "We must stay on the field, we must not despair if the leader of the centre-right is not a senator any more. There are leaders of other parties who are not parliamentarians." | He said: "We must stay on the field, we must not despair if the leader of the centre-right is not a senator any more. There are leaders of other parties who are not parliamentarians." |
| The vote marks the end of a process which determines that Berlusconi cannot take part in any general election for six years. | |
| The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says that Berlusconi has been flung out of parliament in the most humiliating of circumstances - effectively told that as a convicted felon he is no longer fit for public office. | |
| Our correspondent says that, while there is no question this is a major blow to the former PM's political ambitions, the Berlusconi show is far from over - he will continue to lead Forza Italia outside parliament, a party that has considerable electoral support. | |
| Ineligible | Ineligible |
| The debate in the Senate had been heated, with two rival senators nearly coming to blows. | The debate in the Senate had been heated, with two rival senators nearly coming to blows. |
| Manuela Ripetti of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party shouted: "Your only aim is to eliminate Silvio Berlusconi!" | Manuela Ripetti of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party shouted: "Your only aim is to eliminate Silvio Berlusconi!" |
| No formal vote was held, but senators rejected a series of challenges from Berlusconi's supporters. | No formal vote was held, but senators rejected a series of challenges from Berlusconi's supporters. |
| The Senate speaker then declared the three-time prime minister ineligible for a seat. | The Senate speaker then declared the three-time prime minister ineligible for a seat. |
| "The conclusions of the committee on elections have been approved, abolishing the election of senator Silvio Berlusconi," Speaker Pietro Grasso said. | "The conclusions of the committee on elections have been approved, abolishing the election of senator Silvio Berlusconi," Speaker Pietro Grasso said. |
| After the vote, Beppe Grillo, the leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, tweeted: "Berlusconi has been expelled by the Senate. One is out. Now we must evict all the others from the House." | After the vote, Beppe Grillo, the leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, tweeted: "Berlusconi has been expelled by the Senate. One is out. Now we must evict all the others from the House." |
| 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. |
| He will have to serve a one-year sentence, probably under house arrest or by doing community service because of his age. | He will have to serve a one-year sentence, 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. |
| Earlier this year, Berlusconi tried to topple the coalition government of Enrico Letta. | |
| However, a group of Forza Italia dissidents led by Angelino Alfano broke away and Berlusconi backed down during a confidence vote when it was clear he would not get the support he needed. |