What allegations led to Silvio Berlusconi’s 2011 trial?

In February 2011, Silvio Berlusconi was ordered to stand trial following allegations that he had solicited sex from an underage prostitute and subsequently abused the powers of his office to cover up the incident.12

The trial, which began in April 2011, was promptly adjourned pending a review by Italy’s Constitutional Court regarding whether the proceedings against the then-prime minister could legally move forward. This legal challenge occurred in the context of the Constitutional Court having previously struck down a 2008 law that had granted the prime minister immunity from prosecution while in office, thereby exposing Berlusconi to various outstanding corruption and fraud charges.12