Berlusconi Expelled From Italian Parliament

Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been expelled from parliament following his criminal conviction for tax fraud.

The Senate voted to strip him of his seat, hours after he gave a defiant speech to supporters outside his palazzo in Rome.

He denounced the day of the vote as one "of mourning for democracy" and told the crowd of hundreds: "In these past 20 years, if there's one thing I can't complain about it's your closeness (and) your affection."

Supporters wore masks and waved flags as they gathered for a rally in Rome

Mr Berlusconi was convicted in August of manipulating tax bills for his television empire Mediaset.

A court heard he was behind a scheme to purchase the rights to broadcast US movies on his TV networks through a series of offshore companies, and had falsely declared the payments to avoid taxes.

The billionaire was sentenced to four years in jail, which was reduced to one year and will likely be served as community service, and banned from holding public office for two years.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Mr Berlusconi's palazzo

He claimed he did not receive a fair trial and that judges were trying to "eliminate" him from public office.

The loss of his seat will deprive Mr Berlusconi, who is fighting a conviction for paying for sex with a minor among other legal cases, of his parliamentary immunity from arrest.

In June, the three-time prime minister was found guilty of paying for sex with underage prostitute Karima El Mahroug, also known as Ruby the Heart Stealer.

Dancer Karima El Mahroug, known as Ruby the Heart Stealer

During his trial, the court in Milan heard dozens of young women, including Miss El Mahroug, who was 17 at the time, were paid with cash and cars to attend his so-called "bunga bunga" parties and dance semi-naked for him.

His lawyers said it was "completely unrealistic" he will be arrested over the case.

Although Mr Berlusconi will not hold a seat in parliament, he is expected to remain influential in Italian politics.

He pulled his party out of Mr Letta's ruling coalition earlier this year, accusing opponents of a "coup d'etat" to get rid of him.

He has relaunched his Forza Italia movement and some analysts suggest he still commands millions of supporters.

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