Rome: Italy's supreme court on Tuesday upheld a two-year ban from public office against former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who had filed an appeal with the country's top court.
The ban was imposed as part of a tax fraud conviction against the media magnate last year and blocks him from running in elections.
The 77-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison for the fraud linked to his Mediaset business empire, with an automatic reduction to one year under a 2006 amnesty law aimed at reducing prison overcrowding.
Berlusconi, who was also stripped of his seat in the Senate over the case, is expected to serve the term through community service due to his age.
Before the ruling, experts said the supreme court's decision was unlikely to have any impact in practical terms.
Berlusconi was already banned from public office for life in a separate case in which a Milan court convicted him last June to seven years in jail for paying for sex with a minor and abusing his powers as prime minister to cover it up.
The beleaguered premier has two levels of appeal in the sex case before that verdict becomes final.
While the billionaire has been keeping a relatively low profile since his public ousting from the Senate last year, his supporters say he is planning to run in European elections in May.
But as long as Berlusconi is disqualified from holding public office, he will be ineligible to stand for election in Europe. The most he can do is campaign on behalf of his Forza Italia party.
The ban was imposed as part of a tax fraud conviction against the media magnate last year and blocks him from running in elections.
The 77-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison for the fraud linked to his Mediaset business empire, with an automatic reduction to one year under a 2006 amnesty law aimed at reducing prison overcrowding.
Before the ruling, experts said the supreme court's decision was unlikely to have any impact in practical terms.
Advertisement
The beleaguered premier has two levels of appeal in the sex case before that verdict becomes final.
Advertisement
But as long as Berlusconi is disqualified from holding public office, he will be ineligible to stand for election in Europe. The most he can do is campaign on behalf of his Forza Italia party.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Oropouche Virus Surfaces in Europe: What You Need to Know "I Am Confident That...": Italy PM Wishes India On 78th Independence Day Follow Jessica Alba's Wellness Trip In Austria For Your Next Holiday Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan 3 Days After Big Order On Deposits With SBI And PNB, Karnataka Hits Pause Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops Man Clambers Up 2 Floors, Films Woman Taking Bath; Case Filed: Cops US Warns Iran Faces "Cataclysmic" Consequences If It Strikes Israel Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.