Ups and downs of Silvio Berlusconi's political career – timeline
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/27/silvio-berlusconi-political-career-timeline Version 0 of 1. 1993 Silvio Berlusconi, a law graduate and billionaire media tycoon, founds his own political party, Forza Italia – Go Italy – named after a chant used by AC Milan fans. March 1994 He wins first of three election victories and forms a coalition with the rightwing National Alliance and Northern League. The coalition crumbles after seven months after it emerges Berlusconi is being investigated for bribery. April 1996 Berlusconi loses first of two elections to Romano Prodi. May 2001 He returns to power as prime minister. His government goes on to be the longest-serving in Italy since the second world war. August 2004 Berlusconi hosts Tony and Cherie Blair at his Sardinian hideaway. April 2006 He declares himself "the Jesus Christ of politics" on the campaign trail, but loses again to Prodi at the ballot box. July 2006 He is ordered to stand trial for alleged fraud, false accounting, embezzlement and tax fraud. May 2008 Berlusconi is elected prime minister for the third time. He faces 50 votes of confidence over the next three years. October 2009 Patrizia D'Addario gives a TV interview claiming Berlusconi slept with her knowing she was a prostitute. Months of lurid allegations of Berlusconi-hosted "bunga bunga" sex parties follow. December 2009 Berlusconi is hit in the face with an alabaster statuette of Milan cathedral during a political rally. February 2011 A judge orders Berlusconi to stand trial on charges of paying for sex with underage alleged prostitute Karima "Ruby" El Mahroug, a charge they both deny. He is also accused of abuse of office after it emerges he intervened in 2010 to have her released from a police station where she was being held for theft. 12 November 2011 Four days after losing his parliamentary majority Berlusconi steps down as prime minister. 28 October 2012 Berlusconi, angered by a court's jail sentence for tax evasion, a decision he believes is politically motivated, threatens a snap election to bring down the prime minister, Mario Monti, and throw the world of Italian politics into a panic. 7 January 2013 Berlusconi renews his coalition with the far-right Northern League Alliance 24 February 2013 Italy heads to the polls. Centre-left Enrico Letta forms a government which includes a close ally of Berlusconi's, Angelino Alfano. 24 June 2013 Berlusconi is sentenced to seven years for abuse of office and paying a minor for sex. 27 November 2013 Berluscono is expelled from the Italian Senate. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |