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Hundreds of thousands turn out for anti-Berlusconi marches

Italian PM could be facing sex crimes trial

Hundreds of thousands of Italians marched against the country’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in protests held across Italy on Sunday. The rallies, mobilized by women campaigners, were the biggest sign to date of the level of popular disgruntlement with Berlusconi’s scandal-ridden government. The success of the initiative, dubbed “If not now, when,” surprised organizers themselves, who said around one million people gathered in the piazzas of over 200 towns across Italy. The 74-year-old prime minister stands accused of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power for trying to cover it up, claims he denies. On Tuesday a Milan judge will decide whether to proceed to trial.

Financial Times

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