Italy high court confirms Berlusconi ban from public office

Leader of Forza Italia party Silvio Berlusconi arrives to talk to reporters at the end of the consultations with Italian Prime Minister-designate Matteo Renzi (not pictured) at the Parliament in Rome February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's highest appeals court on Tuesday confirmed a two-year ban from public office for centre-right leader and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over a conviction for tax fraud.

Berlusconi's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini said he was "extremely disappointed" by the ruling of the Court of Cassation, which diminishes Berlusconi's hopes of running as a candidate in elections for the European Parliament in May.