Lawyers for Silvio Berlusconi and the Italian government sparred Wednesday in Europe's human rights court in an unusual, high-profile case that could help the 81-year-old tycoon's attempted political comeback. Berlusconi, the three-time Italian premier, says Italy's government violated his rights by barring him from public office over a tax fraud conviction. He is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights — though he's determined to weigh in on Italy's upcoming electoral campaign regardless of what the court decides. "I hope the court quickly takes up my appeal," Berlusconi told La Repubblica on Wednesday, when the Strasbourg, France-based court held its first hearing in the case. Berlusconi in 2013 was stripped of his Senate seat and barred from holding public office following a tax fraud conviction.

Source: ABC News November 22, 2017 10:52 UTC