Judge Anna Magelli set the trial to start on March 20 at a Milan court.
Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche has been sent to trial for false accounting charges linked to her previous ownership of the Visibilia publishing group. The case, involving 16 co-defendants, has attracted a lot of attention because of the high-profile nature of the minister. Judge Anna Magelli set the trial to start on March 20 at a Milan court.
Santanchè, a prominent member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing cabinet, faces accusations of financial misconduct. She is alleged to have manipulated financial statements at Visibilia, a publishing and advertising group she led from 2016 to 2022. Though 15 other defendants are included in the case, some have settled with the prosecution. Santanche, however, has denied all the allegations against her.
Santanche’s defense lawyer, Nicolo Pelanda, said that he was disappointed by the verdict but is optimistic that the court will eventually vindicate her. “It is a decision that we expected but that leaves a bitter taste in our mouths,” Pelanda said as he reiterated his belief in the innocence of his client. Santanche served as the chair and CEO of Visibilia until November 2021. She remained one of the largest shareholders until 2022, when she sold her stake after taking up her ministerial post.
The trial could present political challenges for Prime Minister Meloni, who has publicly supported Santanche. Despite growing calls for her resignation from opposition parties, Meloni has stood by her minister. The case is being closely watched, as it has the potential to cause significant embarrassment for the government.
In addition to the false accounting charges, Santanche is also facing another legal issue, that of alleged benefit fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, Milan prosecutors requested a trial over the matter. However, Santanchè’s lawyer objected, claiming the case should be handled in Rome. Italy’s supreme court will decide on January 29 over the jurisdictional dispute. Santanche has also denied wrongdoing in the benefit fraud case.
As a result, the future of Minister Santanchè remains uncertain, with both the legal and political aspects of the case still pending.
Born in Lincolnshire in 1929, Plowright made her stage debut in 1954.
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