OfGiuseppe Guastella
The minister risks being prosecuted for managing redundancy payments during the pandemic period. The companies Visibilia Editore and Visibilia Concessionaria are involved
The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested the indictment for Daniela Santanchè and two other people, including the minister’s partner Dimitri Kunzand for companies Visibilia publisher And Visibilia Dealership in the investigation into the alleged aggravated fraud against INPS in the management of the redundancy fund during the period of the Covid pandemic.
In addition to the Minister of Tourism and her companion, the request for indictment also concerns Paolo Giuseppe Concordiaexternal collaborator with personnel management functions Visibilia Publisher And Visibilia Dealership. According to the prosecution, not only in that period, from «May 31st
2020 to 28 February 2022″, the two companies were managed by Santanchè and Kunz, but both, together with Concordia, would have been aware of having requested and obtained “unduly”for a total of 13 employees, the redundancy fund in derogation “to support businesses affected by the effects” of the Covid pandemic.
The deputy Laura Pedio and the prosecutors Marina Gravina and Luigi Luzi, during the investigations, recorded the words of the employees, who confirmed that the minister knew: she would have been aware that the employees were continuing to workwhile the pension institution paid more 126 thousand euros, for a total of over 20 thousand hours, “directly to the employees or as compensation to the company”. In particular, as can be read in the documents of the investigations conducted by the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Gdf, over 36 thousand euros “to the benefit of Visibilia Editore”, for seven employees, and almost 90 thousand euros in favor of the Concessionaire for six workers.
Upon notification of the conclusion of the investigations, the Minister of Tourism said she was «surprise at the protests, as I believe it is documented in the documents that I am not involved in any corporate decision relating to the methods of redundancy of some employees”, and he was confident that the matter could end with the dismissal by the prosecutor “or if this did not occur , with the judgment of the preliminary hearing judge who, in the preliminary hearing, decides on the reasons for the prosecution and the defence. According to our Constitution, until the final outcome of the three levels of judgment, no one can be considered guilty. I am also convinced that this time too the judges’ judgment will go against the wishes of my political opponents».
The reaction of the secretary of the Democratic Party is harsh, inviting the prime minister to ask the minister to take a step back: «Brothers of Italy is that party – she said Elly Schlein – which expresses a minister sent to trial for INPS fraud on Covid funds, and at the same time nominates an anti-vax just below Giorgia Meloni. We expect the Prime Minister to have a minimum of respect for the institutions and ask for the resignation of Daniela Santanchè».
Salvini he leaves the decision to the minister and suggests that she not resign: «No, he shouldn’t resign. I’ll leave the evaluation up to you. I’m even on trial, in addition to being sent to trial… I’m a potential convict. So he will choose her. We are not asking for anyone’s resignation.”
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May 3, 2024 (modified May 3, 2024 | 9:25 pm)
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