Italy’s high court upholds Berlusconi’s 2-year political ban in latest setback to ex-premier

ROME – Italy’s highest court has upheld a two-year political ban against Silvio Berlusconi stemming from his tax fraud conviction.

The Court of Cassation ruling handed down late Tuesday is the latest setback for Berlusconi, who was kicked out of Parliament last year after the high court upheld his conviction and four-year prison sentence.

Despite the ban on holding or running for public office, Berlusconi remains a force in Italian politics, heading his Forza Italia party.

The three-time former premier won’t do any jail time for the tax fraud conviction, which concerned the purchase of TV rights to U.S. films for Berlusconi’s Mediaset network. The term has been reduced to one year under an amnesty, and Berlusconi will serve it either under house arrest or doing community service.

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