Italian Tourism Minister Faces Trial for Fraud in Milan

Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè has been ordered to stand trial for alleged falsification of financial statements related to her former publishing company, Visibilia. The trial is set to begin on March 20 in Milan, amid opposition calls for her resignation from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government. Santanchè, a member of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, denies any wrongdoing, asserting that she will prove her innocence in court. This case marks her as the second minister in Meloni's cabinet to face legal challenges, following Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. Additionally, Santanchè is under investigation for alleged benefit fraud and the bankruptcy of another business, with the Italian highest court deciding soon whether to move those cases from Milan to Rome. The ongoing legal troubles put pressure on Meloni's administration as it grapples with issues of accountability and governance amidst scandal.