Berlusconi starts community service in centre for elderly

Berlusconi waves to journalists as he leaves the elderly care home.

DPA/Rome

Italy’s former premier Silvio Berlusconi reported to the elderly care centre near Milan yesterday where he started serving a 1-year community service sentence for tax fraud.

The 77-year-old politician was convicted in August and ordered to perform at least four hours of community service once a week. He is to help care for patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia at the Sacred Family Foundation in Cesano Boscone.

Management at the large Catholic-run complex said over the past few days that Berlusconi would initially be shown around by two assistants, and only gradually be involved in care duties like feeding patients.

Berlusconi arrived at the location – a 40-minute drive from his villa in Arcore, the venue for his notorious “bunga-bunga” parties – in a limousine.

He was wearing the pin of his conservative Forza Italia party on the lapel of his blue jacket.

He was greeted by a trade unionist, Pippo Fiorito, who shouted: “Us Italian workers hold a dream in our hearts: Berlusconi in San Vittore”, referring to a Milan prison.

The man was taken away by security.

Berlusconi spent more than four hours at the centre and declined to speak to reporters.

“They asked me not to make any statements,” he said as he left.

Inside the ward, doctors, nurses and other staff were under strict orders not to film or take pictures, while journalists were kept outside.

“We want to preserve a sense of normality. Berlusconi’s arrival should be an event like any other. Besides, we have much bigger problems inside here,” Fabrizio Pregliasco, the scientific director of the centre, said on Thursday.

Although the management of the Sacred Family Foundation has warned Berlusconi would need to keep a low profile, on the eve of his visit the former Italian leader indicated that he had a “surprise” in mind.

“What I can say is that I am looking around for all the latest cures that have been invented to allow people who are suffering from this grave disease (Alzheimer’s) to do a bit more than what they manage to do today,” Berlusconi told Radio Capital.

Due to his conviction, Berlusconi has had his passport withdrawn, and his movements inside Italy are restricted.

He was warned that could be withdrawn from community service and placed under house arrest if he breaches court orders.

The length of his community service is expected to be cut to 10 months and a half if he keeps up his good behaviour.

While he has been ejected from parliament and banned from public office, he remains Forza Italia’s leader.