Thousands of people have protested in Rome against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s attempt to put himself above the law. Berlusconi wants senior political figures to be immune from prosecution and is pushing for new laws while he himself is facing corruption charges.

Antonio di Pietro, the leader of the party “Italy of Values” said: “What is happening is that because the premier has judicial and economic trouble, the present government makes laws only for its own interest.”

A corruption trial against Berlusconi was recently put on hold for a year after a law suspending it was passed. The statute of limitations on that case runs out in two years. Berlusconi has complained he is being victimised by the judiciary but he dismissed the importance of the demonstration.

“I do not believe it is demonstrations which form the image of the country. It is the facts. For now we must remedy the disastrous image of Naples and its rubbish problem.”

This was the first demonstration against the Italian leader since he was returned to power in April.

Copyright © 2012 euronews