One of Silvio Berlusconi's main reasons for staying in office is to run out the clock on the statute of limitations for the various crimes of which he's been accused. Now Italy's Constitutional Court is looking at the legality of a law passed last year to further protect the premier from prosecution. A memo defending the law has been filed with the court.

In it, state lawyer Glauco Nori says that if the law is overturned ''there would be damage to the functions (of an elected official), which could not be carried out with the necessary commitment.'' It says rejection might ''even lead to a resignation.''

The lawyer argues that the law is ''legitimate'' and needed, given that any trial would limit the premier's ability to lead the country, the reports said. The memo also denounced the risk of media overexposure in case of a trial, with possible consequences for the premier's public image.