“This country is not fair”: In a television address Silvio Berlusconi expressed full understanding that he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Italy’s former Prime Minister portrays herself as a victim of justice – and wants to continue his political career.

Late Thursday evening, a bitter old man appeared on the Italian TV screens. “At the end of my career, the 20-year commitment to this country will be rewarded with accusations and a judgment that has no basis,” he scolded full of self-pity. “This country is not fair.”

The man who since turned to his compatriots in a mature theater production is still one of the most powerful men in Italy – Silvio Berlusconi. Hours before the 76-year-old had been convicted for the first time in his career ranging scandal. Four years in prison for tax fraud was the judgment of the Court of Cassation Roman, but of which it adopted three years of age. He could serve out the remainder in community service or serve in house arrest in one of his villas. The prohibition to hold public office must be renegotiated, the judges ruled.

Berlusconi guilty for this is still an absurdity. “No one can understand the violence assault, which was given me by a number of processes and accusations,” he said in his television address. A part of the judge in Italy RELATES irresponsible, the trials against him are a “real and true legal doggedness”, the search peers. His lawyers are now considering the transition to the European Court of Human Rights.

He had “never been a tax fraud scheme off the ground,” but rather “contributed to the wealth of the country,” the politician said. Recorded the video in Berlusconi’s luxury residence in central Rome.

Beppe Grillo mocked Berlusconi

The former Italian Prime Minister announced his “fight for freedom” and continue his party “Forza Italia”, with whom he had gone almost 20 years ago to revive the policy.

President Giorgio Napolitano was forced on Thursday night, the Italians call to peace and unity. “To get out of the crisis and to give itself a new development perspective, the country has to find serenity and cohesion,” he said.

Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who heads a coalition government of the Democratic Party (PD) and Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party (PdL), called to ask the Italy’s interests over the individual. “A climate of serenity is for the good of the country now, even in legitimate debate within the political forces necessary,” he said.

Der PD-Vorsitzende Guglielmo Epifani kündigte an, seinen Koalitionspartner genau zu beobachten. “Wir wissen, dass ein verantwortungsvolles Verhalten die Möglichkeit stärkt, die gerichtlichen Angelegenheiten von den politischen der Regierung getrennt zu halten”, sagte er.

The leader of the largest opposition movement five stars (M5S), Beppe Grillo, reacted with scorn to the judgment and compared the first definitive condemnation of political opponents with the fall of the Berlin Wall. “Berlusconi is dead, long live Berlusconi,” wrote the populist with a hint of irony in his blog. Berlusconi was like a wall that had separated Italy from democracy.