- Italian politician Nicole Minetti was pardoned in February.
- Minetti had stated that he had to look after a seriously ill adopted child from Uruguay.
- Interpol is now investigating on suspicion of false statements in connection with the request for clemency.
The request for a pardon the Italian regional politician Nicole Minetti could now have political consequences. The basis for the remission was a recommendation from the Ministry of Justice that Minetti should be pardoned for “extraordinary” humanitarian reasons.
She had stated that she had to look after a seriously ill adopted child from Uruguay. However, research by the newspaper “Il Fatto Quotidiano” raises considerable doubts about this representation.
Who is Nicole Minetti?
Nicole Minetti, a former dental assistant, was appointed regional councilor for Lombardy in 2010. Her name is closely linked to Silvio Berlusconi – especially with his lavish dinner parties and the so-called “Bunga-Bunga affair”, in which she played a central role.
Why was Minetti convicted?
In the In July 2013, a Milan court convicted Minetti in the first instance to five years in prison. The allegations were of embezzlement and aiding and abetting prostitution in connection with parties at Berlusconi’s estate. On appeal a year later, the sentence was reduced to three years and eleven months.
What does Minetti say about the recent allegations of false statements?
Minetti denies all allegations. In a statement to the Ansa news agency distributed through her lawyer, she described the allegations surrounding her request for clemency as “unfounded and damaging to my personal and family reputation.”
What’s next?
Italian President Sergio Mattarella demands clarification from the Ministry of Justice. The Milan public prosecutor’s office said Interpol had been brought into the investigation on suspicion of false statements in connection with the pardon quietly granted in February.
The case comes at a politically sensitive time for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: After losing the referendum on judicial reform, her government is struggling to find new support. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio is once again confronted with calls for his resignation from the opposition.
Karin Leuthold (kle), born in 1968, has been working for 20 Minuten since 2005 and is currently working at the news desk.
