Berlusconi considering running as a Bulgarian MEP
04.12.2013 - 10:50
The former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is considering running in Bulgaria for the 2014 European elections.
According to the Italian media, Berlusconi is thinking to run as a candidate for the European Parliament by taking advantage of the EU law, which allows every EU citizen to run in any EU country in the European elections. The controversial Italian politician, who is banned from holding public office in Italy is also considering running in Hungary or Estonia.
Commenting on these reports, a veteran German MEP noted that "after two five-year terms of Barroso at the the head of the Commission, the last thing the EU needs is a five year term of Berlusconi at the European Parliament".
According to the news agency Novinite, the Italian media have noted that Berlusconi is on good terms with former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. However, GERB leader Borsiov said that he had never hεld any talks with Berlusconi for being a Bulgarian MEP candidate. “We have never talked about a Silvio Berlusconi MEP candidacy from Bulgaria," said the former Bulgarian PM, using his Facebook account. “GERB has very good MEPs, who for their most part will be our new candidates. I can resolutely say that Berlusconi will not be a GERB candidate,” Borisov stressed.
Still if Berlusconi runs as an MEP candidate of another EU country he will be able to once again have immunity from which he was stripped in Italy. This is not the first time people try to get elected as MEPs to obtain immunity from prosecution. Victor Uspaskich MEP, a millionaire businessman was elected in 2009 largely to escape prosecution over tax violations.
Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films. The verdict was upheld in August 2013.
According to the Italian media, Berlusconi is thinking to run as a candidate for the European Parliament by taking advantage of the EU law, which allows every EU citizen to run in any EU country in the European elections. The controversial Italian politician, who is banned from holding public office in Italy is also considering running in Hungary or Estonia.
Commenting on these reports, a veteran German MEP noted that "after two five-year terms of Barroso at the the head of the Commission, the last thing the EU needs is a five year term of Berlusconi at the European Parliament".
According to the news agency Novinite, the Italian media have noted that Berlusconi is on good terms with former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. However, GERB leader Borsiov said that he had never hεld any talks with Berlusconi for being a Bulgarian MEP candidate. “We have never talked about a Silvio Berlusconi MEP candidacy from Bulgaria," said the former Bulgarian PM, using his Facebook account. “GERB has very good MEPs, who for their most part will be our new candidates. I can resolutely say that Berlusconi will not be a GERB candidate,” Borisov stressed.
Still if Berlusconi runs as an MEP candidate of another EU country he will be able to once again have immunity from which he was stripped in Italy. This is not the first time people try to get elected as MEPs to obtain immunity from prosecution. Victor Uspaskich MEP, a millionaire businessman was elected in 2009 largely to escape prosecution over tax violations.
Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films. The verdict was upheld in August 2013.
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