Berlusconi wins backing for radical justice reform

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, set to go on trial this month, yesterday won backing for a radical justice reform just as judges issued an arrest warrant for a senior aide on charges of Mafia collusion.

Lower house speaker Gianfranco Fini said after meeting Mr Berlusconi that they agreed to present soon a draft law putting time limits on trials - one of Mr Berlusconi's key demands in his fight against judges he says are biased against him.

Mr Berlusconi has demanded that his allies commit themselves to protecting him from what he calls an onslaught by "communist" magistrates and judges.

Mr Fini, a leader of one of the major factions in the centre-right coalition, said the law would impose a total six-year limit on the three stages of court cases - initial trial, first appeal, and final appeal. Trials in Italy can last for more than a decade.

Mr Fini gave few details but it appeared the law could apply to some of Mr Berlusconi's trials, depending on when it comes into effect and its retroactivity.

"This is just a masked trick to save the Prime Minister," said Felice Belisario, of the opposition Italy of Values party. Former anti-graft magistrate Antonio Di Pietro called it "a criminal game".

Donatella Ferranti of the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, said legislators should reject any "tailor-made laws" crafted to protect Mr Berlusconi.

Mr Berlusconi has been in a combative mode since Italy's top court last month ruled his immunity from prosecution while in office was unconstitutional. It overturned a law passed by his government which critics said was tailor-made to protect him.

While Italians want a reform of their inefficient judicial system, the opposition says Mr Berlusconi's real aim is to regain his own immunity and be shielded from upcoming trials. News that there was support for the new law came a day after the centre-right government had another brush with the courts.