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Rome:
A top Italian court on Wednesday overturned a law granting Premier Silvio Berlusconi immunity from prosecution, allowing prosecutors to resume a corruption trial that could increase pressure on him to resign.
A spokesman said the billionaire businessman-turned-politician would not step down.
"Berlusconi, the government and the majority will continue to govern," Berlusconi spokesman Paolo Bonaiuti said, calling the ruling "a political verdict."
The Constitutional Court's 15 judges overturned the law that caused the suspension of a trial in which Berlusconi was charged with ordering the 1997 payment of at least $600,000 (euro408,329.93) to British lawyer David Mills in exchange for the lawyer's false testimony at two hearings in other corruption cases in to the 1990s.
The 2008 law was passed by Berlusconi's conservatives while the premier was on trial in Milan.
The legislation also shielded the President of the Republic and the two parliament speakers from prosecution. Berlusconi's trial was suspended as a result of the law and opponents charged the law was tailored to protect the premier.
Berlusconi denied the corruption charges, and his lawyers have argued in court on Tuesday that he could not be a defendant and at the same time serve as premier.
A spokesman said the billionaire businessman-turned-politician would not step down.
"Berlusconi, the government and the majority will continue to govern," Berlusconi spokesman Paolo Bonaiuti said, calling the ruling "a political verdict."
The Constitutional Court's 15 judges overturned the law that caused the suspension of a trial in which Berlusconi was charged with ordering the 1997 payment of at least $600,000 (euro408,329.93) to British lawyer David Mills in exchange for the lawyer's false testimony at two hearings in other corruption cases in to the 1990s.
The 2008 law was passed by Berlusconi's conservatives while the premier was on trial in Milan.
The legislation also shielded the President of the Republic and the two parliament speakers from prosecution. Berlusconi's trial was suspended as a result of the law and opponents charged the law was tailored to protect the premier.
Berlusconi denied the corruption charges, and his lawyers have argued in court on Tuesday that he could not be a defendant and at the same time serve as premier.
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