Italy's top court will postpone a hearing on a law that shields prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from trial from its scheduled date on Tuesday until January to avoid a clash with a crucial parliamentary vote.
The change announced by Constitutional Court head Ugo De Siervo means that the hearing will not now take place on the same day as a confidence vote in parliament that could bring down Mr Berlusconi's struggling centre-right government.
Speaking at a news conference, Mr De Siervo said he wished to avoid "excessive media pressure in an inflamed climate".
Two trials for corruption and tax fraud against Mr Berlusconi have been effectively put on hold since his government approved a measure that allows him not to attend hearings because of a "legitimate impediment" due to his public office.
The Constitutional Court had been due to hold a hearing on the case on December 14th but there had been growing speculation that the session would be delayed to prevent the court being dragged into a political battle.
Halfway into his five-year term, Mr Berlusconi has been severely weakened by a split with his former ally Gianfranco Fini, which has deprived him of his previously secure majority in the lower house of parliament.
If he loses the vote on Tuesday, he would be forced to resign, a step which could prompt president Giorgio Napolitano to call new elections, which are not normally due until 2013.
Reuters