Like Al Capone, tax proves the downfall for Silvio Berlusconi, the 'man who never dies'
His vanity and his delusions of being an international statesman have taken a knock from which they’ll never recover
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In the end they got Al Capone on his taxes.
And so, after 20 years’ of court warfare and claims involving bribery, corruption and the mob, three-time premier Silvio Berlusconi will die labelled a criminal because he dodged one of the two things in life that we know are unavoidable.
Friends and foes alike are not expecting the grim reaper to come calling just yet, though, his most bitter detractors have often been heard exclaiming “he never dies”.
But a bit of the Silvo Mythhas passed away – that of Silvio the Untouchable, the Telfon Tycoon. His vanity and his delusions of being an international statesman have taken a knock from which they’ll never recover.
And by confirming the conviction - and only delaying the ban on public office - the Supreme Court judges have paved the way for him to be kicked out of parliament.
And out in the real world, without parliamentary protection magistrates won’t need special permission to arrest him. With an indictment for bribing a former senator on the cards later this year, and with the spectre of charges for mafia association never entirely out of mind, Il Calvaliere knows, like Al Capone, that prosecutors will be tormenting him till the day he dies.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments