Berlusconi Handed 2-Year-Ban from Public Office

An Italian court has ruled that former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi should be barred from holding public office for two years following a conviction for tax fraud.

Berlusconi can appeal Saturday's ruling and the ban would in any case have to be approved by the Senate, where Berlusconi has a parliamentary seat.

The vote in the Senate is expected to take place next month.

Saturday's ruling reflected the prosecution's request for a two-year ban. Berlusconi’s lawyers had asked for a one-year ban.

In August, Italy’s Supreme Court upheld Berlusconi's conviction concerning a tax fraud scheme involving TV rights bought by his company Mediaset at inflated prices.

It is the first definitive conviction for him after decades of criminal proceedings.