Italy's Berlusconi Looks for Presidential Pardon

For his tax fraud conviction

Silvio Berlusconi's lawyer said Wednesday he believed the former premier would request -- and could be granted -- a presidential pardon following his tax fraud conviction, sparking a heated debate in Italy.

"I believe (a pardon) will sooner or later be requested. It remains to be seen, if it is requested and granted, what sort of pardon it would be," lawyer Piero Longo told Radio Capital, evoking the possibility of a full or partial amnesty.

Longo denied his comments shortly after the Radio Capital interview, but the audio was published by Italy's main media outlets on their websites.