Berlusconi makes short work of trials

The Italian senate on Wednesday passed a bill for shortening criminal trials. Italy's Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi, who is the subject of several proceedings, hopes to avoid a sentence with this move, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica writes: "The bill paves the way for an unjust and unequal trial. A trial which on the one hand is conceived to stretch over a long period and which on the other is stifled in its course is an instrument which is bound to become superfluous, useless and impracticable. … The 'short trial' is the fruit of an arrogant claim to immunity. It is a mortgage on intimidation which Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has taken out and put on the table. ... The law would guarantee him protection from criminal prosecution until the end of his mandate."

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