Silvio Berlusconi banned from holding public office for two years

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been banned by Milan court from holding public office for two years, following his conviction for tax fraud.

However, the ban must be approved by parliament before taking effect.

Earlier this month, a cross-party panel of the Italian Senate recommended Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion from the chamber.

Silvio Berlusconi, 77,had threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue but backed down during a confidence vote.

If he is expelled from the senate, Silvio Berlusconi will lose his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in a string of criminal cases.

The former prime minister will also spend a year under house arrest, or doing community service – his preferred option, according to a request he formally submitted last week.

The votes on Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion and ban on holding office are expected to take place within the next few weeks.

Silvio Berlusconi was convicted over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films.

He was sentenced to four years in prison, automatically reduced to one under a 2006 pardon act.

Silvio Berlusconi was also banned from holding public office for five years. The sentence was upheld in August.