Spatuzza's declarations are very recent and are under investigation as praxis.
Throughout Berlusconi's career there has always been the mystery of the origin of his fortune. A consistant percentage of it- some say 20%- has never been accounted for- and is no longer the object of criminal investigations because of the statute of limitations and various amnesties.
There are unrelated cases to the Graviano's that have already been the object of investigations. Berlusconi did pay monthly dividends to the Cinà-Mangano clan for decades but it could not be proved that these were dividends on investments. One of Berlusconi's television channels was originally owned by the mafia through covers.
Berlusconi's daughter Barbara, head of the family Fininvest, issued a statement last night asserting that the company was entirely owned by the Berlusconi family. She further declared that the company will sue for damages against anyone who continues to assert otherwise.
A lawsuit will be yet another opportunity to demonstrate in a civil court what has always been known but has never been discussed in a court due to laws of procedure (statutes of limitation, amnesties, etc.: The origins of Berlusconi's fortune are a mystery defended at all costs.
Because of that, I doubt Fininvest will ever sue. It hasn't in the past when the problem was already notorious, and without Spatuzza's testimony.
As an answer to Spatuzza's going State, Berlusconi will no doubt seek to appease the mafia. He has hastily thrown together several bills to be "imposed" on a mute parliament where he has the numbers to do what he wants up to a point. These bills are:
1) All trials must be celebrated within six years with a two year limit for each grade of justice. The bill is retroactive so as to abolish not only Berlusconi's current trials but tens of thousands of other trials.
2)If property confiscated by the State from the mafia has not been designated for a new use within 90 days, it can be sold by the State. In other words, the mafia, through intermediaries can buy back it's properties legally andin the process, recycle money.
3) The infamous "fiscal shield" which allows the importation of capital hidden abroad under total anonymity and with a token sanction of 5% which as any economist knows can be quickly recovered through investments. The law allows the importation therefore of any capital wherever in the world accumalated through criminal activity thanks to the anonymity-impunity clause. It is curious therefore that Berlusconi has disappeared in Russia for three days with his chum Putin and went twice to Dubai.
This fiscal shield will cause a financial revolution in Italy- and certainly will help the economy. Elsewhere, this law would be considered an international crime typical of fiscal paradises in their best moments.
Europe will certainly condemn it but as Berlusconi has shown time and again, Europe counts nothing. It's useless to talk about closing the corral gate when the horses are long gone.
4) Berlusconi's peones in parliament are once again pulling out the sob story of cruel and inhuman detention of the major mafia bosses. Known as 41bis, the law is designed to prevent mafia bosses from having contact with their territory. The law has been very effective in contrasting the military mafia.
In conclusion, we may observe today an on-going negotiation in broad daylight between Berlusconi's political forces, which now control the country, and the mafia. The excuse of the economic crisis is a windfall. The Gravianos, heavy weight padrinos very much admire Berlusconi for his ability to create riches but partners in an agreement each have means of leverage. The Gravianos need only raise a finger or appear to lose patience and Berlusconi abides. The pro-mafia legislation coming out of parliament these past weeks seem more an attempt to stop revelations with Spatuzza. If the Gravianos talk, it would be embarassing (but not particulary revealing)- but I don't see their interest in going State. Their silence is worth billions worldwide.
