A Milan preliminary hearings judge (GUP), Tiziana Gueli, has postponed a preliminary hearing in the Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè fraud case to May 20. The minister faces aggravated fraud charges related to INPS social security funds used for layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The delay follows a request from Santanchè’s new defence lawyer, Salvatore Pino, who asked for more time to review the case after joining her legal team. Her other lawyer, Nicolò Pelanda, was also unavailable due to another trial.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pino said he could not rule out the possibility of Santanchè testifying. “We are evaluating,” he said, adding that she remained “very calm” about the case. He also announced that INPS would withdraw as a civil plaintiff, as the agency had been fully compensated by Santanchè’s former companies.
The judge will decide whether Santanchè will face trial, with at least two more hearings expected before a ruling on the indictment. The minister has stated she will step down if indicted.
Santanchè, her life partner Dimitri Kunz, and two companies are accused of fraudulently claiming COVID-19 redundancy funds for staff at her Visibilia group while they were allegedly still working.
On Wednesday, Milan State Attorney Marina Gravina opposed the adjournment and the two-month delay, warning the case risked exceeding the statute of limitations. Some of the alleged offences date back to 2020, with a statute of limitations of seven and a half years.
Judge Gueli rejected the objection and rescheduled the hearing for May 20, the earliest available date, according to judicial sources. Santanché refuses to resign over the case.
