Italian Senate to vote over Berlusconi expulsion from parliament

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Italian Senate will vote later on whether to expel former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament over his conviction for tax fraud, BBC News reported.

Analysts say a large majority of senators is expected to back his expulsion.

The former PM has called for supporters to protest in Rome against what he says is a political vendetta. The vote comes a day after Berlusconi withdrew his Forza Italia party from the coalition government.

The ex-premier, who has dominated politics for nearly two decades in Italy, had asked senators to delay the vote on his expulsion because he claims to have new evidence proving he did not commit tax fraud.

However, the vote is expected to go ahead on Wednesday, November 27 evening.

He threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue earlier this year but backed down during a confidence vote.

The 77-year old has dismissed the Senate, which is dominated by his political opponents, as biased against him.

Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to U.S. films. The verdict was upheld in August.

Expulsion from parliament may lead to Berlusconi's arrest over other criminal cases, as he would lose his immunity from prosecution.

He will have to serve a one-year sentence for his tax conviction, probably under house arrest or by doing community service because of his age.

He has also been convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and of a breach of confidentiality over a police wiretap. He is appealing against both convictions.