Italy's top court rules this week on whether a law granting immunity to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi violates the constitution, in a politically charged verdict that could reopen criminal trials against him.
One of the first measures passed by parliament since Mr Berlusconi returned to power for a third time last year was a law giving him immunity from prosecution while in office.
The law's immediate effect was to halt existing legal proceedings against the 73-year-old conservative businessman.
But prosecutors in those cases have lodged an appeal with the Constitutional Court, arguing that the measure violates a number of principles enshrined in Italy's constitution, including that all citizens are equal before the law.
The court meets tomorrow and is expected to give its verdict by Thursday. Should it rule the law unconstitutional, the trials against Mr Berlusconi would resume.
Critics say the immunity law, which also covers the head of state and speakers of both chambers of parliament, was tailored to rid media tycoon Mr
The prime minister says he has been hounded by magistrates since entering politics 15 years ago, and that the law allows him to govern without being "distracted" by the judiciary.
In 2007 Mr Berlusconi was cleared of responsibility in the criminal case over corruption at the Fininvest company after the charges against him were dropped because of the time that had elapsed from when the alleged crimes.
His former lawyer, Cesare Previti, was found guilty of bribing a judge in 1991 to rule in favour of Fininvest.
Mr Berlusconi was jointly responsible for corruption by his Fininvest company in a 1990s battle to buy publisher Mondadori, a judge said in arguments for imposing damages on the firm.
There was no immediate comment from the prime minister's office.
Reuters