D-day for Berlusconi as socialists scent blood

Date: 05/04/01

By John Shelley

THE European Parliament's political group leaders are due to meet today (5 April) to discuss moves to allow the prosecution of Silvio Berlusconi - the MEP who is favourite to become Italy's next prime minister.

Spain has asked for the billionaire media-magnate's parliamentary immunity to be lifted in connection with allegations of tax fraud at Tele 5, a Spanish television station which he part owns.

Berlusconi has consistently maintained his innocence over the claims, which date back to 1990, but socialist MEPs scent blood over an issue that could embarrass him with the Italian general election just a month away.

The political group leaders' discussions on Berlusconi will be held behind closed doors. Their talks will focus on a decision by the Parliament's president, Nicole Fontaine, to reject a Spanish request for his immunity to be lifted last year.

The socialists say she acted beyond her powers by not consulting the Parliament's legal authorities before returning the application to Spain and are threatening to go to the European Court of Justice.

"She has failed to follow the rules," said Enda McKay, spokesman for the socialist group. "Not to consult the legal services of the Parliament or the legal affairs committee is a decision we find very hard to fathom."

But with 64-year-old Berlusconi's centre-right House of Freedoms' alliance favourite to win the Italian election, the ramifications of a decision to revive the Spanish request go far beyond the closeted world of the European Parliament.

Fontaine believes she acted properly in sending back the application on the grounds that it was sent directly from the supreme court and not, according to normal practice, through the Spanish government.

"All the cases going back 15 to 20 years show the precedent is that such requests come from either the ministry of foreign affairs or the ministry of justice," said David Harley, the head of the Parliament's press service. "As there was a doubt about the formal status of this request it would not have been correct to pass it on."

Whether Parliament reconsiders the original immunity request will depend on whether other political parties decide to support the socialists' quest for blood.

European People's Party (EPP) leader Hans-Gert Pöttering will back president Fontaine and Berlusconi - both are members of his political group.

The Green group are thought to be willing to support the socialists, meaning the balance of power could lie with Liberal group leader Pat Cox.

Insiders say it will be difficult for Cox to provoke the EPP because they have agreed to back him to eventually take over from Fontaine as president.

Berlusconi, whose business holdings include Italy's three main private TV stations, a newspaper and soccer giant AC Milan, this week refused to comment on the latest developments but has in the past denied the allegations against him.

The revival of the immunity request is not the only setback faced by Berlusconi this week. European Commissioner Mario Monti said on Monday that he had rejected an offer by the tycoon to join his government if he wins the Italian election.

Monti said that he was too deeply engaged in strengthening the European Union's competition policy to give up his job. He was nominated to be Commissioner in 1994 thanks to the support of a government headed by Berlusconi during his previous eight-month stint as Italian premier.

The other Italian prime ministerial contender, Francesco Rutelli, also an MEP, met Monti in February. The Commissioner has refused to comment on whether he too offered him a ministerial post.

The European Parliament's political group leaders are due to meet on 5.4.01 to discuss moves to allow the prosecution of Silvio Berlusconi, the MEP who is favourite to become Italy's next prime minister. Spain has asked for the billionaire media-magnate's parliamentary immunity to be lifted in connection with allegations of tax fraud at Tele 5, a Spanish television station which he part owns.