Berlusconi bill

Italy's Senate has passed legislation which opponents of PM Silvio Berlusconi say is designed to help him in his legal battles with the nation's courts. The bill would freeze some long-running trials for a year, including one involving Mr. Berlusconi in Milan.

And the government is set to introduce another bill that will give top public figures immunity from prosecution. Mr. Berlusconi has faced corruption charges in the courts for many years but has always protested his innocence. The prime minister argues he has long been a victim of politically-biased judges and prosecutors. Although Mr. Berlusconi was found guilty in one corruption case, the verdict was overturned on appeal and other cases were dismissed under statutes of limitation.

Now we know why he became PM, to legalize his corruption!

Berlusconi is back to …rubbish

Silvio Berlusconi says tackling Naples' rubbish crisis and rescuing troubled airline Alitalia will be among his top priorities.

Mr. Berlusconi's bloc won solid majorities in both the Senate and lower house in the early general election. "I will be in Naples three days a week" to solve the rubbish crisis, he said on Tuesday. Piles of stinking rubbish have been littering the city for months.

Mr. Berlusconi, 71, is embarking on his third term as prime minister. The billionaire media mogul has warned of "difficult months ahead" and has vowed to work with the centre-left opposition to pass much-needed economic reforms. He was congratulated by defeated rival Walter Veltroni. The polls were held three years ahead of schedule following the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition. Mr. Berlusconi will head Italy's 62nd government since World War II.

The clown is all the way back and deep in rubbish as usual!