Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche will stand trial for alleged falsification of financial statements at her former publishing company, a Milan judge ruled on Friday.
Santanche, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, denies any involvement in fraudulent activity during her tenure as chair and CEO of Visibilia, a media publishing and advertising firm.
She becomes the second minister in Meloni’s cabinet to face trial, following Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who was acquitted in December of charges related to the detention of a migrant boat under a previous government.
“Prosecutors claim that the company’s business plan was overly optimistic,” Santanche’s lawyer, Nicolo Pelanda, said after the court hearing. “It’s disheartening, but we are confident we can prove Santanche’s lack of involvement,” he added.
The trial is scheduled to begin in March.
Opposition parties are calling for Santanche’s resignation. Should she step down, she would be the second Meloni minister to do so after a sex scandal led to the resignation of the culture minister last year. Meloni has yet to confirm whether Santanche will remain in her role if ordered to stand trial.
Santanche is also facing two other investigations, including one for alleged benefit fraud. Milan prosecutors claim that Visibilia, which Santanche sold before joining Meloni’s administration in 2022, illegally claimed government redundancy funds during the COVID-19 pandemic for employees who were still working.
Italy’s highest court will decide later this month whether this case should be moved from Milan to Rome, after which a decision will be made on whether Santanche should stand trial.
Additionally, prosecutors are investigating Santanche over the bankruptcy of the organic food company Ki Group-Bioera, which she previously co-managed.
AFP
