According to AFP, Rete4 TV-channel, pertaining to the media empire of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was fined for 250 thousand euros for the violations in the coverage of electioneering.

At the parliamentary elections in Italy, which are to take place on April, 9-10, the main contenders will be the left-centrist coalition headed by Romano Prodi and the right-centrist “Forza Italia”, whose leader is Berlusconi.

The Italian Communications Authority passed a decision that the news blocks of Rete4 presented forged polls data as per the pre-election electorate preferences. It should be noted that the channel was warned about the possible consequences in case of fabrications.

Berlusconi’s opponents in the person of Prodi have continually accused the Prime Minister of abusing the media he possesses. Moreover, Mediaset, which is owned by Berlusconi family, has already been fined twice for 200 and 100 thousand euros for similar offence.