Berlusconi 'throws legal system into chaos to save ally'

[lovuian]

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article318026.ece

By Peter Popham in Rome
Published: 08 October 2005
A new law going through Italy's parliament will result in nearly half the 3,000 cases before the country's highest court of appeal being struck down before the sentences can be confirmed, judges warned this week.

Hundreds of serious crimes will go unpunished and many whose sentences have already been confirmed by a lower appeals court will walk free.

Many other cases that are in an earlier phase will also be affected, including the brutal attack by riot police on activists and journalists sleeping in the Diaz school in Genoa during the G8 meeting of 2001, in which dozens were seriously injured. Several of the victims were British.

snip...
The court believes that of 3,365 cases pending, as many as 1,652 may be killed if the Bill becomes law. They include cases of manslaughter, corruption, embezzlement and family abuse. Nearly 90 per cent of corruption cases before the court will be struck down. "We will be able to finish our work before lunch," was one judge's sardonic comment.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[SharonAnn]

1. In a word, "Yes".

I've been watching Berlusconi for several years to see how far he would go and how far the Italians would let him go and how far the world would let him go.

So far, it looks "pretty far", perhaps all the way to being Il Duce II.

[Massacure]

2. Changing a law in Italy is retroactive? WTF?

[Just Me]

3. *Hiccup* What's that you say Mussolini is doing these days?

There are just too damn many assholes in charge these days!!!

[barbaraann]

4. This is the country that has had more than 43 governments since WWII.

I'm a lot more alarmed by Germany electing a rightwinger as a leader.

[lostnfound]

5. lovuian, please trim your post - copyright infringement

Max 4-5 paragraphs.
Thanks.