Ask former presidents Estrada, Menem, Suharto or Alemn. Corrupt presidents cannot afford to lose power these days. Without the presidency as armour, the world is an inhospitable place.

Cavaliere Silvio Berlusconi (photo) is off the hook for the time being. Last week, the Italian Parliament approved an immunity bill that will freeze a trial in Milan where the Italian Prime Minister is charged with bribing judges over a 1985 business deal involving a corporate takeover battle.

The magistrates will be able to investigate, but cannot touch him while he is in power. In the same case, his former attorney Cesare Previti -- accused of paying large sums of money on his behalf to bribe judges -- was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Immunity is not his only buffer against liability.