Protesters Clashes Against Silvio Berlusconi, Rome, Italy

Delaying tactics
The Italian legal system, trying to contain the excessive length of judgments, allows the statute of limitations to continue to run during the course of the trial. Due to the unceasing slow justice system, the delaying tactics adopted by Berlusconi's attorneys (including repeated motions for change of venue) have served to nullify pending charges on many occasions. Some of Berlusconi's close collaborators, friends and firm managers have been found guilty of related crimes, notably his brother, Paolo, who in 2001 agreed to pay 100,000,000 Italian Liras (52,000 Euros) as a plea bargain for various charges including corruption.