Vote trading in the 2015 Regional elections: Forza Italia senator Luigi Cesaro and his son Armando acquitted, acquittal also for the other 27 defendants.
Saved also thanks to the so-called 'Cavallo sentence' which declared the telephone interceptions at the basis of the accusations inadmissible, Today the Forza Italia senator and his son Armando, a former regional councilor for FI and at the top of Berlusconi's party when he was very young, received an acquittal because the 'fact does not exist', issued by the sole judge of the Tribunal of Naples North.
Along with the two prominent figures from Campania, the other 27 defendants were also acquitted, including the former mayor of Giugliano in Campania, Angelo Liccardo.
The Court of Naples North, composed of a single judge (Judge Nigro), acquitted "because the fact does not exist" the 29 defendants who ended up on trial on charges of vote-trading. The judge accepted, among other things, the requests for acquittal formulated by the prosecutor Dongiacomo. The phases of the trial were decisive for the acquittals.
At the beginning of the legal proceedings, the lawyer Alfonso Furgiuele who, together with his colleague Sanseverino, took care of the defense of Armando Cesaro, raised an exception on the usability of the wiretaps. The judge reserved the decision but the so-called “Cavallo sentence” arrived which confirmed the arguments put forward in support of the exceptions raised by the lawyer.
The inadmissibility of the wiretaps may have been a determining factor in Judge Nigro's decision filed this morning at the Naples North Tribunal.
The news of the acquittal provoked a series of political and personal reactions.
Armando Cesaro has entrusted his state of mind to a long post on Facebook: "I'm Armando. I've been involved in politics since I was 15, it's the passion of my life. I attended the sections, put up posters at night, distributed flyers at gazebos, set up stages, mainly to let others climb on them", "... I spent the last three and a half years having to give up all this, because I ended up under investigation" and "... today I was acquitted because the fact does not exist".
The son of Senator Luigi Cesaro of FI retraces his young political career in the footsteps of his father and Silvio Berlusconi. “I remember the smell of the first facsimiles with my name,” he wrote in the post, “the emotion of seeing the first posters with my photo. My first rally… I still get the shivers! I worked my way up the ladder and I learned the ropes fighting against a prejudice that has accompanied me, but that I don’t think I deserve. I’ve always had just one goal: to represent my fellow citizens in institutions, and to defend them. To be the point of reference for my people, the people I come from and grew up with. Of whom I know every little problem. By working, without ever giving up, I’ve achieved all my goals. From the dream of a child who looked at Silvio Berlusconi as his idol, to the national vice presidency of the youth of Forza Italia and the election to the regional council of Campania, with 30.000 preferences. I’ve solved problems, presented legislative proposals. Always present, always active. I have worked hard, as I like and as I know how to do”. “I am Armando. And I have spent the last three and a half years having to give up all of this, because I ended up under investigation”, underlines Armando Cesaro who adds: “Out of a sense of responsibility and respect towards my people, towards my party – or rather, towards the leader of my party – I stepped aside. And I waited, silently. They have been long and difficult months. As a regular I chose to step aside. As a manager I chose to return to being an activist. To not give anyone the opportunity to exploit my position. And it cost me a lot. I am Armando. And today I have been acquitted because the fact does not exist. True friends, those who really know me, have always believed in the goodness of my actions and have remained by my side. And I thank them. I am not celebrating, because there have been many, too many sacrifices, insults, sadness”. “A philosopher said: 'truth is the daughter of time'. That time has arrived today,” concludes Armando Cesaro.
Satisfaction for the acquittal was also expressed by the president of the Forza Italia senators Anna Maria Bernini: "The acquittal of Senator Cesaro and his son Armando from the charge of vote-trading 'because the fact does not exist' is splendid news, certainly not surprising for me, which sweeps away the speculation triggered by one of the too many investigations opened on the basis of fragile and surreptitious elements, as attested by the requests for acquittal formulated by the same prosecutor". The senator stated in a note. "It is yet another demonstration of how overly vague types of crimes such as vote-trading and influence peddling open the doors to excessive discretion by the judiciary - she added -. Today we are happy for the Cesaro family who are finally emerging from a nightmare, and on behalf of myself and the entire Forza Italia group in the Senate I send a big hug to colleague Luigi and my best wishes to Armando to successfully resume his political career".
Article published on 17 September 2021 - 15:01
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