The Hindu : Italian House passes immunity bill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

International

International

Italian House passes immunity bill

Rome June 19. The Italian Parliament has approved a controversial immunity bill that would allow the Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, to avoid an embarrassing corruption trial just days before Italy takes over the presidency of the European Union.

Members of lower House, where Mr. Berlusconi's right-wing coalition holds a majority, backed the bill by 319 votes to 17 with 13 abstentions, two weeks after the Senate also approved the proposed legislation.

Members of the main leftist Opposition parties boycotted the vote to protest the bill, which would protect the state's five top officials from legal prosecution during their terms in office. The law would effectively avoid the intense embarrassment of a possible conviction for Mr. Berlusconi during Italy's six-month E.U. presidency, which starts on July 1.

Once adopted, the new law would stop all legal proceedings against the head of state, the Prime Minister, the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament and the head of the Constitutional Court, as long as they remain in office. Immunity, even for earlier crimes or misdemeanours, will apply during the period each individual is in office. Mr. Berlusconi has another two years of his mandate to run. Ongoing trials would be suspended.

AFP

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