The new expression to familiarize yourself with is “political viability”. Setting aside the ambitions of obtaining a pardon from the Head of State – an impassable path for those who have suffered other convictions or have other trials in progress – Silvio Berlusconi engages in a negotiation with the Quirinale. Il Cavaliere wants to guarantee himself some form of safe conduct (pardon? amnesty?), a pass that allows him to officially remain at the helm of the center-right despite the final conviction for tax fraud. This would be a measure to be included in the framework of a broader justice reform, in line with some suggestions put forward by the "wise men" last March.
The counterpart offered by the former prime minister can only be political stability, or the commitment not to question the stability of the Letta government. A proposal that clashes with the multiplication of hawks in the ranks of the PDL and the Democratic Party and which could also pass through the early resignation of the Cavaliere from the Senate (without waiting for the vote of the Council for authorizations and of the Chamber).
The first institutional bearers of the operation were the Pidiellini group leaders in Parliament, Renato Schifani and Renato Brunetta, who this morning met the President of the Republic, who returned yesterday from holidays in South Tyrol. After the conversation, which lasted about an hour, the two went to Palazzo Grazioli for a summit with the party's general staff. Also present in Berlusconi's Roman residence were the secretary Angelino Alfano, Daniela Santanchè, and the coordinators Denis Verdini and Sandro Bondi.
Furthermore, during the afternoon, the Knight should meet his lawyers, Niccolò Ghedini and Franco Coppi, to discuss the strategy to follow in relation to the sentence. The sentence confirmed last Thursday by the Cassation is four years, but three are automatically forgiven due to the pardon passed by the centre-left government in 2006. The former prime minister has until mid-October to choose how to serve the remaining year: he could ask for probationary assignment to social services, or settle for house arrest (which would be granted automatically for reasons of age).
The reduced sentence provided for by the pardon is not only a kind gift, but also a detail that could prove to be fundamental for Berlusconi's political future. What is the real sentence imposed on the Knight? A year or four? It makes a big difference, because the anti-corruption law passed last year (with the crucial votes of the PDL) establishes that anyone who suffers a sentence of more than two years for crimes against the public administration cannot be re-nominated.
The dictation seems clear, but there are quibbles. And not just because of the pardon. "The law has just been approved and there are no precedents to rely on - underlines Andrea Augello (PDL) rapporteur on the Berlusconi case in the Elections Board -. First of all we must verify whether we fall within the case provided for by the law".
Carlo Giovanardi has a much more definitive tone: "The accessory penalty of 'supervening ineligibility' cannot be applied to Senator Silvio Berlusconi as it entered into force in 2012, while the facts for which he was convicted date back many years earlier" .
