Rome:
Italy's constitutional court will postpone until January a hearing on a law that currently shields Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from prosecution while in office, the court's president said today.
The hearing was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but is sure to be postponed to next month because Berlusconi faces key confidence votes in the lower and upper houses of parliament that day.
The law, the subject of heated political debate, gives Berlusconi and ministers in his government temporary immunity.
All trials against them were suspended earlier this year for a maximum of 18 months, pending the constitutional court ruling.
The court will rule in January on whether the law is valid under Italy's constitution.
Postponing the hearing will allow it "to pronounce its judgement in a calmer climate," Ugo De Siervo, the court's newly-elected head said.
On Tuesday the government faces confidence votes in the lower and upper house of parliament. The government would have to resign if it loses the vote, leading either to a new coalition or fresh elections.
The hearing was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but is sure to be postponed to next month because Berlusconi faces key confidence votes in the lower and upper houses of parliament that day.
The law, the subject of heated political debate, gives Berlusconi and ministers in his government temporary immunity.
All trials against them were suspended earlier this year for a maximum of 18 months, pending the constitutional court ruling.
The court will rule in January on whether the law is valid under Italy's constitution.
Postponing the hearing will allow it "to pronounce its judgement in a calmer climate," Ugo De Siervo, the court's newly-elected head said.
On Tuesday the government faces confidence votes in the lower and upper house of parliament. The government would have to resign if it loses the vote, leading either to a new coalition or fresh elections.
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