Italy ex-senator: Berlusconi bribed me

A former Italian senator says he has been bribed by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in order to change his political stance.

Sergio De Gregorio said in an interview he received 3 million Euros weaken the majority of the governmental coalition headed by Romano Prodi, the Persian service of Deutsche Welle’s website reported on Sunday.

Berlusconi has been accused of bribing Italian politicians several times so far.

In the interview, De Gregorio stated, “As I told my prosecutor, I have received this money.”

The former prime minister paid De Gregorio 3 million Euros to change his stance, and enter Berlusconi’s Il Popolo della Liberta (the People of Freedom) party.

At the time, De Gregorio was the head of the defense commission, and was responsible for affairs regarding the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO).

Some months later, he joined the forces opposing the coalition, headed by Berlusconi.

Two million Euros of the total bribery had been paid monthly to the former senator.

Some factions in the United States defended the bribery.

Prodi noted that these measures are violation of democracy in Italy.

The issue brings to mind the question whether the United States manages affairs in Europe.