Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly falsifying financial statements during her time as chair and CEO of Visibilia, a publishing and advertising company.
A Milan judge announced the decision on Friday, marking the beginning of another legal challenge for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.
Santanche, a member of the far-right Brothers of Italy party led by Meloni, denies any wrongdoing. Her trial is set to begin in March 2025.
Prosecutors claim that Visibilia’s business plan contained overly optimistic forecasts during Santanche’s leadership. Speaking outside the court, her lawyer, Nicolo Pelanda, said, “It leaves us with a bitter taste in our mouths, but we are convinced that we can prove Santanche’s lack of involvement.”
Santanche is also linked to two other investigations. Milan prosecutors allege that Visibilia, which Santanche sold in 2022, improperly accessed government redundancy funds meant for employees during the pandemic, despite staff continuing to work.
She is under investigation for the bankruptcy of the organic food company Ki Group-Bioera, which she previously co-managed.
The Italian Supreme Court is set to decide later this month whether the redundancy funds case should be transferred from Milan to Rome.
Opposition parties have called for Santanche’s resignation following the trial announcement. If she steps down, she would become the second minister to leave Meloni’s government, following the resignation of the culture minister last year over a sex scandal.
Meloni, who has so far avoided confirming Santanche’s fate, refused last month to comment on whether she would keep her position if ordered to stand trial.
Santanche is not the only minister in Meloni’s government to face legal issues. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was cleared in December of charges related to detaining a migrant boat while serving in a previous administration.
