Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has started his community service following his conviction for tax fraud.
The flamboyant former premier has to do voluntary work once a week in a care home near Milan for people with Alzheimer's.
The sentence illustrates the spectacular fall from grace for the billionaire, who was expelled from parliament after being convicted last year.
Berlusconi's arrival for work in a chauffeur-driven car did not go unnoticed.
"To prison!" a trade unionist protester in a clown hat shouted.
"We Italian workers have one dream in our hearts: Berlusconi in San Vittore!" he called, referring to a Milan prison, before being led away by police.
Authorities at the care home in Cesano Boscone say they will not allow Berlusconi to use his work as a chance to campaign politically and insist he will be treated in the same way as any other volunteer.
Berlusconi enters the Sacred Family Foundation Massimo Restelli, head of the home's care services, told the La Repubblica daily that Berlusconi's introduction would be "gradual" so that he and the elderly patients can get used to each other.
"It will be small steps so as not to make any mistakes. And then he could do all sorts of things," he said.
"He could help with meals, which are tricky because sometimes you have to 'remind' the patient that they are eating
"We ask everyone including Berlusconi to observe, to listen and not to get performance anxiety."
The former PM insists he has not given up on politics yet He added that the media magnate would be accompanied at all times by a medical worker specialising in Alzheimer's.
"We'll see if Berlusconi's presence creates some kind of close bond, if he is a reference for anyone. The guests do remember things, even if that seems absurd to people who do not know the illness," he said.
The disgraced politician has dominated Italian politics for two decades and is leading a campaign for European Parliament elections despite being barred from running. His party is expected to get 20% of the vote.
Berlusconi has said in interviews that he has a "big surprise" in store and has hinted that the stint at the centre could involve a deeper commitment to Alzheimer's sufferers.
"I think in the end I will stay a lot longer than I have to," the 77-year-old told a radio show.
"I have a big surprise prepared. It took me just 10 days to learn the different cure methods that can be used."
The sentence is seen as part of a slow-moving disintegration of Berlusconi as a political force, with his Forza Italia party divided by bickering and top allies indicted for mafia ties and corruption.
He was first convicted in 2012 and lost his final appeal last year in a case that centred on fraudulent methods used to purchase film distribution rights in order to avoid paying taxes in Italy.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Berlusconi Begins Care Home Community Service
Dengan url
http://wantekkepek.blogspot.com/2014/05/berlusconi-begins-care-home-community.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Berlusconi Begins Care Home Community Service
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Berlusconi Begins Care Home Community Service
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar