The speaker of the lower house of the Italian parliament, Gianfranco Fini, said on Tuesday after meeting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that a draft law putting time limits on trials - one of Berlusconi's key demands in his fight against judges who he says are biased against him - would be presented soon. Fini said the draft law would impose a six year limit on the three stages of court cases - initial trial, first appeal, and final appeal. He said this could be ready in a matter of days but did not comment on whether the law would impact cases against Berlusconi. Trials in Italy can last for more than a decade. Observers say the law could apply to some of the prime minister's trials, depending on when it comes into effect and its retroactivity.
Fini said the draft law would impose a six year limit on the three stages of court cases - initial trial, first appeal, and final appeal. He said this could be ready in a matter of days but did not comment on whether the law would impact cases against Berlusconi. Trials in Italy can last for more than a decade.
Observers say the law could apply to some of the prime minister's trials, depending on when it comes into effect and its retroactivity.
