Italy’s top court upheld a jail sentence against Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud on Thursday in a ruling which could throw the country’s fragile coalition government into crisis.
The Court of Cassation confirmed a four-year jail sentence – commuted to one year under an amnesty – imposed by a lower court. But it ordered a further judicial review of a ban on holding public office imposed for the same offence.
The long awaited ruling is likely place the fragile left-right coalition led by Prime Minister Enrico Letta under severe strain although Berlusconi has pledged that his centre-right party will maintain its support for the government.