World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
European court rejects Berlusconi family's appeal over Mediaset tax fraud case
The European Court of Human Rights rejected an appeal over Silvio Berlusconi’s conviction for tax fraud linked to Mediaset television rights.
Berlusconi, founder of Forza Italia and a former Italian prime minister, was sentenced to four years in 2013, with three years covered by an amnesty.
He argued that the case breached fair-trial protections, including concerns about the impartiality of Italy’s Court of Cassation, which made the conviction final.
Berlusconi died in 2023, and his family continued the appeal.
The European court unanimously found no violation of the right to a fair trial; accounts differ on whether it rejected all complaints or ruled other grounds inadmissible.
The decision leaves the conviction in place and ends the appeal at the European court.
The European Court of Human Rights unanimously rejected the Berlusconi family’s appeal over Silvio Berlusconi’s tax-fraud conviction in the Mediaset television-rights case.
The court found no violation of the right to a fair trial and described the appeal as manifestly unfounded.
Berlusconi was sentenced to four years in prison in 2013, with three years covered by a 2006 pardon.
He filed the appeal against Italy, and his family continued it after his death in 2023.
The family’s lawyers said they were disappointed by the ruling.
- Who
- The European Court of Human Rights ruled on an appeal filed by Silvio Berlusconi and continued by his family.
- What
- The court rejected the appeal over Berlusconi’s tax-fraud conviction in the Mediaset television-rights case.
- When
- October 22, 2026.
- Where
- The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
- Why
- The court found no violation of the right to a fair trial and said the appeal was manifestly unfounded.
Berlusconi family and lawyers
European Court of Human Rights
Fairness of the trial
Berlusconi family and lawyers
The family’s lawyers challenged the fairness of the proceedings and alleged violations of fundamental rights.
European Court of Human Rights
The court found no violation of the right to a fair trial.
Court’s impartiality
Berlusconi family and lawyers
The appeal questioned the impartiality of the Cassation Court that upheld the conviction.
European Court of Human Rights
The court found no demonstrated lack of impartiality.
Italy’s Cassation Court made Berlusconi’s four-year tax-fraud conviction final.
Berlusconi filed an appeal against Italy at the European Court of Human Rights.
The court accepted the appeal for examination and put ten questions to the Italian government.
Berlusconi died, and his family continued the case.
The European Court of Human Rights unanimously rejected the appeal.
- Sentence
- Four years, with three years covered by a pardon
- Case
- Mediaset television-rights tax fraud
- Final conviction
- August 2013
- Appeal filed
- December 2013
- European court ruling
- October 22, 2026
3 sources
Silvio Berlusconi condannato per frode fiscale, dopo 16 anni Strasburgo boccia il ricorso: «Nessuna violazione dei diritti dell'uomo»
"Il processo per frode fiscale sui diritti tv Mediaset è stato equo": la Corte Europea dei diritti umani respinge il ricorso per riabilitare Berlusconi
Berlusconi, processo per frode fiscale sui diritti tv è stato equo: Cedu rigetta ricorso
What people are saying
Thirteen years dismissed in a single line. This is the disconcerting paradox of today’s decision.
manifestly unfounded