Italian senate kicks out ex-premier Berlusconi

Tax-fraud conviction ends career, but he won’t leave quietly

ROME — The Italian Senate on Wednesday expelled threetime ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi from Parliament over his tax fraud conviction, ending his two-decade legislative run for now, but not his political career.

Berlusconi has warned that the unprecedented move would embarrass Italy internationally, and he maintained his defiance even as the Senate voted, addressing a cheering crowd outside of his Roman palazzo a short walk away.

“We are here on a bitter day, a day of mourning for democracy,” Berlusconi declared.

Even though he won’t hold a seat in Parliament for at least six years, the 77-year-old Berlusconi pledged to remain involved in politics and urged his followers not to despair — noting that other political leaders are not lawmakers. He has relaunched his Forza Italia party and he still commands millions of loyal supporters.

“Also from outside the Parliament, we can continue to fight for our liberty,” he said, citing the founder of the 5 Star Movement, Beppe Grillo, who is not a lawmaker, and Matteo Renzi, the Florence mayor who is a Democratic Party star widely tipped as a future premier candidate.

Berlusconi still faces other legal problems, including a seven-year prison term and lifetime ban from holding public office for his conviction of paying an underage prostitute for sex at his infamous “bunga bunga” parties. He has professed his innocence and plans to appeal.