Silvio Berlusconi: Trial for bribery of witnesses postponed to February

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Silvio Berlusconi

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STEFANO CAROFEI / POOL AFPA / imago images/Independent Photo Agency Int.

A court in Milan has adjourned a hearing against Silvio Berlusconi over witness bribery.

According to the Ansa news agency, the presiding judges postponed the appointment to mid-February.

Berlusconi's lawyer asked for the postponement.

He justified this with the current corona situation and the upcoming elections for the new head of state.

The hearing, which has now been postponed, was originally scheduled for Wednesday next week.

On that day, however, the election of the President in Rome could still take place.

Ex-Prime Minister Berlusconi is considered the candidate for the highest office in the Republic of Italy and received the support of the parties from the center-right camp.

Recently, however, the pressure on the conservative politician has increased because, according to one of his supporters, he lacks the necessary votes.

More than 1,000 people's representatives are called upon to vote in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome from January 24th.

Current President Sergio Mattarella will resign on February 3, at the end of his seven-year term.

Even if it is a rather representative post, the President has a central role to play in times of crisis.

For the first three ballots, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority to win.

From the fourth, the absolute majority is enough.

Should Berlusconi be elected, the ongoing legal proceedings against him are likely to be suspended for the time being, since the head of state enjoys immunity

Berlusconi faces trial for bribing witnesses.

The proceedings against the 85-year-old party leader of the co-governing Forza Italia are a consequence of previous proceedings.

In these, Berlusconi was on trial for his so-called bunga-bunga parties with young women.

The trial dates have been postponed several times in the past - sometimes because of Berlusconi's health.

as/dpa