Berlusconi's billions on the line in divorce battle
It is understood that Ms Lario is seeking to have the fortune of her estranged husband Silvio Berlusconi split equally amongst his five children. Photo: Getty Images
Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, who is already fighting to avoid imminent trials for tax evasion and bribery, was dealt a further blow yesterday when Veronica Lario, his estranged wife, announced that she was taking him to court in a divorce battle.
At stake is his fortune, estimated at between €5bn and €8bn. It is not yet known whether Ms Lario's divorce action includes a specific demand over the division of his legacy.
Mr Berlusconi (73) has been seeking a discreet, out-of-court settlement with Ms Lario (53) since she declared she was leaving him six months ago over his alleged relationships with other women.
He is known to have wanted to avoid a messy court battle over the division of his wealth between his three children by Ms Lario and his two by his first wife, Carla Dall'Oglio.
Blame
However, lawyers for Ms Lario said she regarded him as the guilty party, and had applied for a formal separation, the first step in divorce proceedings, which accused her husband of being to blame for the breakdown of the marriage.
Under Italian law, couples can divorce after three years of separation.
Ms Lario's decision to take her husband to court as the guilty party means he could be forced to explain his alleged relationships with other women, including models, showgirls and "escorts".
Mr Berlusconi has two children by his first marriage -- Marina (43) and Piersilvio (40) -- and three by Ms Lario -- Barbara (25), Eleonora (24) and Luigi (21).
Ms Lario is said to be demanding that the Berlusconi fortune be split equally between all five children.
However lawyers for Mr Berlusconi are expected to argue that Marina and Piersilvio are senior managers in his business empire and deserve to benefit more since they have contributed to its growth.
Mr Berlusconi's business empire embraces construction, television, football, insurance, advertising and publishing, as well as villas and other properties in Milan, Sardinia, Bermuda, Britain and the United States. Ms Lario's three children are all members of the board of Fininvest, Mr Berlusconi's holding company, with a 7pc stake each.
Mr Berlusconi holds 60pc, and the rest is divided equally between Marina and Piersilvio.
Ms Lario has no stake in the companies but owns a villa at Macherio, outside Milan, where she has long led a separate life.
Her latest move comes as Mr Berlusconi's aides in Parliament yesterday tabled a hastily formulated law placing a new cap on the length of Italian trials, following a ruling in October by the Constitutional Court overturning a law giving him immunity from prosecution.
Obstacles
The new measure appears likely, however, to run into constitutional, legal and political obstacles. Critics say it is not the judicial reform which Italy badly needs but a "desperate" ad hoc measure intended to save Mr Berlusconi from conviction for corruption.
Mr Berlusconi's troubles began in May when Ms Lario said that she wanted a divorce because she could no longer tolerate the behaviour of a man who "frequented minors" and was "not well".
In January 2007 she published an open letter in 'La Repubblica' demanding a public apology after Mr Berlusconi openly flirted with showgirls and praised the beauty of Mara Carfagna, a former topless model who is now his Minister for Equal Opportunities. (© The Times, London)
Irish Independent
