Senator accused of abuse, La Russa launches investigations
The Forza Italia parliamentarian, also through his lawyer, defended himself by saying he was innocent of the facts
Senate President Ignazio La Russa initiated the procedure provided for in the Rules of Procedure of Palazzo Madama in relation to Senator Francesco Silvestro, a Forza Italia parliamentarian, to whom a businesswoman - according to Repubblica's reconstruction - attributed a sexual assault that took place in his office as a parliamentarian.
Meeting with Questors on Tuesday
La Russa, the note states, 'has learned from the press of certain circumstances relating to Senator Francesco Silvestro' and, pursuant to the combined provisions of Rule 67 of the Senate's Rules of Procedure and Articles 2 and 8 of the Code of Conduct, has asked the Quaestors to carry out the necessary investigations for the subsequent assessments within the competence of the Presidency Council. A meeting between the President and the Quaestors is scheduled for Tuesday.
Article 67 of the Regulation
On a procedural level, Rule 67 of the Rules of Procedure of the Senate provides that, "for particularly serious events that take place within the precincts of the Senate building, but outside the Chamber", the President may refer the case to the Presidential Council. The body, having heard the senators concerned, may pass resolutions on sanctions ranging from censure to disqualification from participating in the work of the Senate for a period not exceeding ten sitting days. The resolutions adopted shall be communicated to the Assembly and may not be debated.
The code of conduct referred to in Article 2 stipulates that senators must act 'with discipline and honour, in compliance with the principles of transparency, integrity and accountability, in order to prevent any action or behaviour that might compromise the prestige of the Senate of the Republic'.
The rule also excludes that the senatorial office may be used to obtain "direct or indirect financial advantages or other benefits, the acceptance of which could result in an alteration of the principle of freedom of office" enshrined in Article 67 of the Constitution. Article 8 entrusts the Presidency Council with the supervision of compliance with the code and regulates the investigative procedure: at the request of the President of the Senate, alleged cases of violation are submitted to the Presidency Council, which may delegate to the Quaestors the investigation in cross-examination with the senator concerned. The senator concerned may appeal to the Contentious Committee against the decisions taken.
