Berlusconi claims about Dublin visit ‘a provocation’

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is reportedly considering coming to Dublin next month, despite the fact that his passport has been withdrawn.

In a statement Mr Berlusconi (77) suggested he might seek to defy the terms of his current one-year conviction for tax fraud and come to Dublin next month for the European Peoples' Party (EPP) congress due to be hosted by Fine Gael.

Following his conviction Mr Berlusconi's passport was withdrawn, meaning that if he were to travel anywhere outside of Italy, he would need approval from the Milan judicial and police authorities.

Following his conviction, Mr Berlusconi was expelled from the Senate and also banned from holding legislative office for six years.

Notwithstanding that ban, Mr Berlusconi has already said he would like to stand in this summer's European-elections, running for his born-again Forza Italia party.

At a meeting with advisors this week, Mr Berlusconi reportedly repeated that wish, and cited this as the reason he wanted to attend the centre-right EPP Congress in Dublin on March 6th and 7th.

Because Ireland does not adhere to Schengen Mr Berlusconi would require a valid travel document.

Sources in Forza Italia told The Irish Times this morning the media tycoon’s suggestion that he would visit Dublin were almost certainly a “provocation” of the Italian authorities, given that he fully expects to be denied any travel outside of Italy.

As a result, Mr Berlusconi may not even apply to the Milan judiciary for the right to travel to Dublin.

Contacted this morning, a Fine Gael spokesman said he knew nothing about Mr Berlusconi’s intentions regarding the congress but added that Forza Italia were senior members of the EPP.