Italian PM Silvo Berlusconi returns to public duties
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has returned to official duties a month after his face was injured by an attacker in Milan. Berlusc...
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has returned to official duties a month after his face was injured by an attacker in Milan.Mr Berlusconi, 73, smiled and waved at supporters outside his Rome residence, and pointed to his face, indicating there was minimal scarring.
His nose and two teeth were broken when a man threw a model of Milan cathedral at the premier on 13 December.
He spent four days in hospital and has been out of public view since then.
Supporters held a banner saying, "Welcome back", with polls suggesting his popularity has increased since the attack.
"I have a little scar here," Mr Berlusconi said, pointing to his cheek, "but my muscles are very strong, you'll see."
Alleged attacker Massimo Tartaglia remains in custody.
 When Mr Berlusconi left hospital in December, his face was bandaged |
Mr Berlusconi met his justice minister, allies and his own lawyer, to discuss long-standing plans for justice reform.
In October, Italy's highest court lifted the immunity from prosecution for top officials while in office, paving the way for fraud and tax trials to commence against Mr Berlusconi.
However, he denied that any justice reform would be tailored to benefit him alone.
"I believe that modernising the country is indispensable," he said on Monday.
"It's worth working on this for all of us."
The bills include one aimed at limiting the length of Italian trials to six years in total, rather than allowing them to last more than a decade.
The opposition and magistrates accuse Mr Berlusconi of using the bill to stop trials against him.
The prime minister had a turbulent 2009, marked by allegations about his friendship with a teenage model and about escort girls attending parties at his residences. His wife filed for divorce.
Source: bbc.uk
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