ROME, Sept 09, 2013 (AFP) Silvio Berlusconi's campaign to hold on to his seat in parliament despite a conviction has no precedent in Europe's recent history, where politicians usually resign long before scandals even come to trial.
Here are the main cases over the last decade:
-- Belgium: After coming to power in March 2008, prime minister Yves Leterme is forced to resign just months later after being accused of putting pressure on the judiciary over the rescue of Fortis bank.
He returns to government as foreign minister under Herman Van Rompuy but leaves after an investigation is opened in 2009 over the Fortis accusations.
He again serves as prime minister from 2009 to 2011.
-- Croatia: In 2009, Ivo Sanader resigns as prime minister. Accused of fraud, he is arrested in Austria, extradited and jailed between July and December 2011.
After being found guilty of receiving millions of euros bribes from Hungarian energy giant MOL and an Austrian bank, he is sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In 2013, Sanader faces new corruption allegations.
-- Czech Republic: Then prime minister Petr Necas is forced to resign in June 2013 following his implication in a corruption and abuse of power scandal, involving his top aide and mistress.
Prosecutors have said they will not file charges.
-- Finland: Then prime minister Matti Vanhanen quits in 2010, also abandoning the leadership of his party.
Vanhanen said it was for health reasons but there are accusations that an association where he was president illegally funded his presidential campaign in 2006.
In 2011, parliament declined to investigate further.
-- Germany: Then federal president Christian Wulff steps down in February 2012 after his immunity is lifted in the wake of a corruption scandal.
Wulff was accused of having a hotel room paid for by a film producer in exchange for supporting a film project. His trial is due to start in November.
-- Lithuania: Elected in January 2003, Rolandas Paksas is ousted 15 months later for violating the constitution for giving Lithuanian citizenship to his top donor, a businessman of Russian origin.
He is banned from running for office in Lithuania but is still elected to the European Parliament in 2009.
-- Poland: Leszek Miller, a leftist prime minister, resigns in 2004 and quits the leadership of the Social-Democratic Party over corruption accusations.
