Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Dreaded IMU
Besides Berlusconi's relative charisma and the country's fear of change, Berlusconi's en-
during popularity may have been in part due to his promise to repay the unpopular Im-
posta Municipale Unica (IMU), a tax on properties. Never mind that Berlusconi's govern-
ment originally introduced the tax (to apply to second homes and commence in 2014).
The subsequent prime minister, Mario Monti, accelerated the introduction to 2012 and in-
cluded people's primary residences, and therefore shouldered most of the blame.
Berlusconi's Trials & Tribulations
However, sensationally, in the summer of 2013, Berlusconi was successfully convicted of
tax fraud, having exhausted the appeals process. The Supreme Court upheld his one-year
sentence, but sent another part of the sentence - the five-year bar on holding public office
- back to the Court of Appeal, so at the time of writing he was still able to continue in
politics. Though it's worth considering that successful conviction may not be the end of
Berlusconi as a leader: Beppe Grillo, who is unable to stand for government due to a man-
slaughter charge following a car accident, continues to lead the Five Star Movement from
the sidelines.
Berlusconi has been facing trial over several cases, including tax evasion and bribery,
but the most sensational trial is 'Rubygate'. In it, Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex
with Karima El Mahroug, a nightclub dancer nicknamed Ruby Rubacuori (Ruby
Heartstealer), while she was still 17 and therefore an underage prostitute. The encounters
reputedly took place at so-called bunga bunga sessions; sex parties held at several of Ber-
lusconi's villas. Berlusconi is further accused of providing false information to a Milan
police chief in order to release El Mahroug from detention on unrelated theft charges (he
allegedly claimed she was the granddaughter of President Mubarak of Egypt). In May
2013 a prosecutor in Milan told a court that Mr Berlusconi paid Ruby €4.5 million in late
2010.
Despite his prosecution and the numerous other ongoing cases, the former cruise-ship
crooner insists that the claims are part of a plot orchestrated by the political left. But could
it be that Italy's tumultuous relationship with Il Cavaliere ('the Knight') is finally in its
death throes?
