SILVIO BERLUSCONI, STRIPED NAKED?

Now he is vulnerable and the predators are surely smarting to take a bite out of Italy's richest man and prime minister, poster-boy for men behaving badly, a certified playboy, Silvo Berlusconi!

But can Mr. Fix-It fix the present choke-hold, put on his neck with the lifting of his immunity from prosecution? The Italian Constitutional court in a 9-6 split decision lifted the Teflon of immunity hitherto encapsulating and protecting the office of the Prime Minister from prosecution? The Constitutional Court ruled that an immunity law he introduced last year, shortly after being re-elected, was unacceptable because it contravened the principle that all Italians should be equal before the law. According to the court, such an immunity violates the cardinal principles of Italy's constitution of equality of persons under the law! Icheoku asks, with such exposure of Berlusconi's under-belly, can he survive his traducers?

Berlusconi, a man who became so wealthy and powerful that he thought he was invincible, has be denuded by the courts of Rome? They took away his immunity thereby rendering him "a common Italian" and subject to prosecution for any or all criminal infractions while in office? The allegations and charges are probably numerous but whether they are provable is another subject for some other day's discussion. A man given to unapologetic expression of self, who was once scolded by the Queen Elizabeth of England for being too excited? Who twice referred to President Barack Obama as being "tanned?" Who was stood up German Angela Merkel waiting while he bantered away on his cellphone at a world war commemoration/NATO event and/or meeting in Germany? Berlusconi who once referred to himself as the "the Jesus Christ of politics?" A man who dismissively said, when asked about possible conflict of interest of his many media businesses with his office as prime minister, "If I, taking care of every-one's interests, also take care of my own, you can't talk about a conflict of interest?" Really?

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi allegedly once paid $600,000 dollars in hush money to buy a witness, British Tax-lawyer David Mills' silence? He also was waging an economic war against the mafias with a proposed bridge project from Sicily to the mainland, which will take away so many ferry businesses owned and controlled by the mafioso? Icheoku asks, in the battle for the soul of Italy's business between Berlusconi and the Mafia, who is now winning; as the tentacles of the Mafia could be very far reaching. His wife Veronica recently in May 2009, filed for divorce, alleging a philandering husband incapable of letting go of small girls, young enough to be his grand-daughters? And Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is just 73 years old!

Bella Noemi Letzia pictured left, is one of such girls allegedly caught in Berlusconi's fishing net? The divorce taken a turn for the worst, turning into a messy affair; and a scorned woman is deadlier than a viper snake. So where is Uncle Berlusconi's problem really coming from? Was his cup full and waiting for this ruling by the Constitutional court to put the drive-shaft cranking? We shall soon find out in coming weeks as the prosecutors' office in Rome decide whether to go after Uncle Berlusconi while in office? But who appoints people to this office and could there be a quid-pro-quo, arm-twisting backroom dealings here to frustrate the intention of the ruling? Icheoku has no insider information but the hovering cloud of suspicion is gathering momentum for a stormy day on Italy's politics?

So far, Berlusconi is all out, firing on both cylinders; dismissing his corruption charges as "laughable?" Icheoku asks, but is anyone in Italy's prosecutor's office laughing with this over confident, self-immolating and egotistic Berlusconi, after the court revoked his immunity from prosecution; which will now open two previously suspended cases against him? But in his usual characteristic self, Berlusconi quipped, “The government will forge ahead calmly, tranquilly and with even more grit than before because this will be absolutely indispensable for freedom and democracy in this country. The two trials against me are false, laughable, absurd … I will defend myself in the courtroom and make my accusers look ridiculous and show everyone what stuff they are made of and what stuff I am made of." Italy's 84 year old President Giorgio Napolitano was not spared the venom of Berlusconi, as he accused him of taking sides with his detractors, those Left-wing parties? Yet unapologetic, he maintained that he does not care 'what the head of state says, as he feels like being made a fool of.'

The immunity from prosecution law which the Constitutional court over-turned was otherwise known as the Alfano law. It shielded holders of Italy's four top political jobs, prime minister, president and speakers of the two houses of parliament, from prosecution while in office. According to one commentator, the ruling finally brought to an end, a 15-year legal tussle between the Italian billionaire media-mogul and the Italian judiciary.

Icheoku says, in the final analysis, it is important to note the reason the court threw out the Alfano law, because under Italy's law, 'all animals are equal;' but unlike in Nigeria, where 'Animal Farm' rules supreme! How the current constitutional and political crisis developing in Italy is finally resolved will depend on series of intriguing, power play, wheeling and dealing; and will prove conclusively, whether Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a political chess-master, or just an Italian rascal, who found fortune, fame and power but lost it all to some self-elating missteps!