The European Court of Human
Rights said Thursday Silvio Berlusconi's appeal against a ban on
him holding public office would be heard by its Grand Chamber on
November 22.
Berlusconi and the government have until July 31 to file
their defence pleas, judicial sources told ANSA.
The Grand Chamber is usually reserved for cases that are
particularly important or complex.
The former premier was ousted from parliament in 2013 under
the 2012 Severino Law that prevents anyone sentenced to over two
years from holding or running for public office for at least six
years.
The law, named after then justice minister Paola Severino,
kicked in after the media billionaire was handed a definitive
conviction for tax fraud.
The three-time former premier and media tycoon was sentenced
to four years in prison for masterminding a tax-dodging strategy
by his Mediaset company, commuted to one year of community
service which he began serving in May 2014.
Berlusconi, the leader of the opposition centre-right Forza
Italia (FI) party, argues that Italy violated European
legislation by applying the 2012 law retroactively, thus
imposing a harsher penalty than was applicable at the time of
the crime for which he was convicted.
He complained of violations of Article 7 (no punishment
without law), Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and
Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 (right to free elections).
The Grand Chamber comprises seventeen judges, including the
President and the Vice-Presidents of the Court, the Section
Presidents, the national judge and other judges drawn by lot.
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