11:50
societynews[dot] org
Milano-Italian opposition parties and media claimed Tuesday that a measure buried in Italy's austerity package euro47 billion (68 billion dollars) would allow the family investment company of Premier Silvio Berlusconi to avoid a heavy fine, at least temporarily.
Magistrates and opposition politicians expressed outrage at a measure that would suspend payments until the appeals process is exhausted.
Fininvest, the holding company of the Berlusconi family's heritage, was ordered two years ago to pay euro750 billion (1.09 billion dollars), a rival for alleged corruption in the acquisition of the Publishing House Mondadori in 1990. A decision on appeal in case Mondadori is expected this week. Italian Media say that Fininvest has not yet paid any part of the fine.
Italian newspapers said that the measure only came to light during a review of the austerity package by the Italian President's Office.
The Ministry of finance had no immediate comment, though it canceled a presentation of austerity Tuesday, while the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano told reporters that he would not comment on the package, until the review was complete.
Meanwhile Berlusconi ally, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, said that the measure was general and not aimed at protecting anybody in particular. "If I understand correctly, is a general measure," Frattini was quoted by news agency LaPresse as saying, adding that it did not receive much attention in the Cabinet.
The Government has approved austerity measures last week to show the financial markets and the European Union that is balancing its budget. Must be approved by Parliament.
The three-year-plan aims to bring the Government's budget deficit of 3.9% this year, nearby-balance by 2014. Includes new taxes on financial transactions, tax concessions for young entrepreneurs, which extends a public sector hiring freeze, and budgets of the ministries, as well as measures to combat tax evasion.
Opposition politicians said that the measure benefiting from the Berlusconi family violated the will of the voters, who showed in a referendum last month that they think the premier does not deserve special treatment. Voters overwhelmingly killed a law partially shielded Berlusconi and other senior officials from prosecution while in Office.
"If this is confirmed, it will be proof that the austerity measures will be a problem for all Italians and a solution for the Premier Berlusconi," Pierluigi Bersani, leader of the main centre-left party, was quoted as saying by the Sun 24 Hours financial daily.
Shares of Mediaset media company, controlled by Berlusconi's Fininvest were down 1.6 percent to 3.25 euros in Milan.
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