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European Rights Court Rejects Berlusconi and Fininvest Appeals in Lodo Mondadori Case

The Strasbourg decision upholds the €540 million award to CIR by finding only a procedural flaw in the Cassazione’s reasoning on costs.

Overview

  • On January 8, 2026, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed the 2014 applications by Silvio Berlusconi—continued by his heirs—and Fininvest.
  • The court found no breach of Berlusconi’s presumption of innocence, no denial of a fair trial to Fininvest, and no violation of property rights.
  • The only violation identified concerns insufficient reasoning by Italy’s Cassazione on the order for legal costs, a limited issue that does not affect the merits or damages.
  • The national rulings remain intact, including the compensation of roughly €540–541 million owed by Fininvest to CIR in the Mondadori dispute.
  • Fininvest’s lawyer called the ruling disappointing and said a request for referral to the court’s Grand Chamber is under evaluation, as one judge issued a partial dissent.