Berlusconi can get away with murder

Silvio Berlusconi can get a way with blue murder – official. The controversial Italian Prime Minister’s government passed a law yesterday that makes him completely immune from prosecution while he remains in office. The bill was devised to allow him to duck out of the corruption trial involving David Mills, the estranged lawyer husband of Labour minister Tessa Jowell. But as a consequence it means Berlusconi can commit any crime he likes, when he likes, with impunity.

One commentator said of the new bill, which was passed in the Senate in Rome by 171 votes to 128: "Technically, Silvio Berlusconi could murder his long-suffering wife Veronica and get way with it." The law covers not only the position of prime minister, but also the speaker of both the upper and lower house of parliament and the Italian president.

Sadly, it does not exempt David Mills. He will still be prosecuted for allegedly withholding information about the billionaire Italian leader’s business dealings, charges that could lead to a prison sentence.