Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing a possible sentence of 12 months under house arrest after Italy's highest court upheld a prison sentence for tax fraud.
The 76 year old has denounced the decision in a video address, saying it's based on nothing and deprives him of his freedom and political rights.
The champagne flows outside Italy's highest court as protesters welcome its decision to uphold Silvio Berlusconi's sentence for tax evasion.
They hold a placard bearing a photograph of the 76 year old which reads Justice has been done.
Emblazoned over the former prime minister's face is the word Arrenditi- Italian for surrender.
Unlike previous court rulings against Silvio Berlusconi, this one cannot be appealed.
In October last year he was sentenced to four years in prison for tax evasion, although this was automatically reduced to one year under a 2006 amnesty.
Political analyst Alessandro Politi says, due to his age, the former Prime Minister is facing either house arrest or community service and not a jail term.
"He's old so he shouldn't go to jail and the worse thing that can happen is that he stays for a certain amount of time at home or, you know, assisting in some social service but that's really all. By the way, I would be thrilled to know what he will do, it could be interesting as a coach for, you know, less favoured people, how to sell themselves on the labour market, you know, it could be fascinating."
Mr Berlusconi has faced more than 50 court cases over various matters, but this ruling is being described as the first definitive conviction.
He says it's genuine judicial harrassment, unmatched in the civilised world.
While some celebrated outside the court, others there to hear the verdict were not impressed.
This is because the court did not uphold a decision to ban Silvio Berlusconi from holding public office for five years with the five judges ordering that be the subject of another judicial review.
It means Mr Berlusconi can remain as a senator and the leader of his People of Freedom Party, the PDL.
And that's left Rome resident Francesco feeling angry.
"It's yet another cunning Italian trick, Berlusconi will remain in parliament and continue to damage Italy with his people together with the Democratic Party."
Similar misgivings from Nolita, another resident of Rome who came to the court for the decision.
"They confirmed the sentence but in reality he remains where he is without any change. Maybe if they place him under house arrest or make him sign in every morning but nothing will change. He is a senator and he will remain a senator, he is head of the party and he will remain head of his party."
Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers have called the ruling unjust as they'd been hoping to have it overturned in a case that involved television rights bought by his company Mediaset.
Last year's court case found Mediaset had inflated the price it paid for film distribution rights as a way of avoiding paying taxes.
In the video message following the decision, the billionaire businessman maintained his innocence.
"I have never been a silent partner of anyone, I never devised any system of fiscal fraud, no false invoices exist in the history of Mediaset just like there were no hidden funds abroad that involve me or my family."
Silvio Berlusconi's party forms part of Italy's coalition government with the incumbent Prime Minister Enrico Letta requiring the support of both PDL and his own Democratic Party to govern.
In a statement released after the ruling, Mr Letta called for a climate of serenity for the good of the country.
This might not be the last definitive conviction for Silvio Berlusconi.
He has appeals pending for other cases where he was convicted of paying an under-age prostitute for sex and for organising to have a police phone intercept concerning a political rival leaked and published in a newspaper owned by his brother.
