Court orders political ban for Italy's Berlusconi

October 19, 2013 16:47

A court in Milan today ordered a two-year ban from parliament and elections for scandal-tainted former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in the latest twist in his legal saga.

The ruling is part of the tax fraud case against the billionaire tycoon -- his first ever definitive criminal conviction -- in which he faces a year of community service or house arrest.

The 77-year-old Berlusconi was not present at today's hearing and his defence lawyers have the right to appeal the verdict, although it was not immediately clear whether they would.

"This is the latest piece in a mosaic that aims to eliminate the leader of 10 million Italians from the political scene and is destined to fail," said Renato Schifani, the chief senator from Berlusconi's People of Freedom party.

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