Silvio Berlusconi has been expelled from Italy's Parliament. In August, the three-time ex-Premier was sentenced to four years in prison for masterminding an illegal scheme to reduce the tax bill of his media company Mediaset. Silvio Berlusconi's sentence was commuted to a year under house arrest or in community service.

On Wednesday, the Italian Senate expelled Silvio Berlusconi from Parliament for the Mediaset tax fraud conviction. Berlusconi has been in the legislature for two decades. Berlusconi won't hold a Parliamentary seat, but will probably remain influential in Italian politics. Silvio Berlusconia relaunched his Forza Italia party. Berlusconi still has the support of millions of Italian citizens.

Silvio Berlusconi responded by declaring a "day of mourning for democracy." Thousands of Italian citizens showed their support outside his Roman palazzo. Analysts say this begins his next electoral campaign.

Berlusconi warned that his expulsion will prove to be an international embarrassment for Italy.

Berlusconi said "Today they are toasting because they can take an adversary, they say a friend, in front of the executioner's squad. It is the day they have been waiting for for 20 years."

Citing other political power brokers who are not seated in Parliament like  the founder of the Five Star Movement, Beppe Grillo, and Matteo Renzi of the Democratic Party, Berlusconi pledged to continue his role as a political leader.  He said "Also, from outside the Parliament, we can continue to fight for our liberty."

Berlusconi's political career began in 1994. His part was named after a soccer chant.

The Parliamentary move comes from a 2012 law that bans anyone sentenced to more than two years in prison from holding or running for public office for six years. Berlusconi's lawyers say the law is unconstitutional. The point out that the charges are still pending. Berlusconi says he didn't get a fair trial. He claims the judges were biased and out to "eliminate" him from public office. Berlusconi's attorneys say the law is is unconstitutional and are not retroactively applicable to crimes allegedly committed before it was passed.

On Aug. 1, Italy's high court upheld Berlusconi's tax fraud conviction and four-year prison term. Berlusconi's Mediaset media conglomerate purchased the Italian television rights to American films.

Under a general amnesty, Berlusconi's prison term was reduced automatically to one year. Berlusconi will serve his time either under house arrest or through public service.

Berlusconi sent a letter to opposition senators with the warning that they would tarnish Italy's image abroad. He said it is "a responsibility that in the future will shame you in front of your children, your electors and all Italians."

Berlusconi is still the leader of the relaunched Forza Italia party.

Giovanni Orsina, deputy director of the school of government at Rome's LUISS University said "Berlusconi by himself doesn't have the strength to bring down Letta's government, but he's going to make it more difficult for the Democratic Party to stay in the majority. I think Silvio Berlusconi can do some damage to this government."

Berlusconi is still facing a seven-year prison term and lifetime ban from public service. He was convicted of paying an underage prostitute for sex at his infamous "bunga bunga" parties.