After the political storm of two days ago which saw the Government come out strengthened by the vote of confidence, today it returns to office with the vote of the Junta for the elections of the Senate which has yet to decide on the forfeiture of Silvio Berlusconi's parliamentary office, after the definitive sentence of the Court of Cassation.
The public session, which takes place in the Koch hall of the Senate, opens at 9,30 with the presentation of the speaker (Dario Stefàno) who, by regulation, "summarizes the facts and issues without expressing judgements". Immediately after he takes the floor each of the parties, who can be represented by a single lawyer, admitted to practice before the higher courts. A short reply is also allowed. By regulation, senators cannot represent the parties before the junta. So Silvio Berlusconi will not be able to be defended by the lawyer Ghedini, who is also a senator. It is probable that Franco Coppi is in the Koch room, who also defended the Knight in Cassation for the last act of the Mediaset TV rights trial. The Knight, for his part, has already made it known that he will not be there.
President Stefàno, by regulation, has "discretionary powers in the direction of the discussion and in the regulation of the public session". Before the closure of the discussion, the parties can take the floor directly, even if they have been represented by a lawyer, and, lastly, the senator whose election has been declared contested (this is Ulisse Di Giacomo, first of the unelected at Palazzo Madama behind the Cavaliere and therefore ready to take his place, or his lawyer, Salvatore Di Pardo).
Once the discussion is over, the Board meets immediately in the Council Chamber for the decision. Decision that "must be taken immediately or, in exceptional cases, no later than forty-eight hours". The decision is then immediately read by the President in public session.
