Minister Daniela Santanchè faces a no-confidence vote in Parliament. Five Star, PD, and AVS demand her resignation after her indictment for false accounting in the Visibilia investigation and the looming charge of aggravated fraud at INPS. However, the vote has been postponed to an undetermined date.
The majority lacks support, at least based on the deputies present in Montecitorio on Monday. No Forza Italia members were in the chamber, only one Northern League representative on the government benches (Vannia Gava, Deputy Minister of the Environment), and 11 from Fratelli d’Italia.
Two Melonian ministers sat beside her in the centre of the chamber: Nello Musumeci, a long-time friend from Storace’s Destra, and Luca Ciriani, responsible for Relations with Parliament. Both deny that the absences indicate distance or isolation from Santanchè. Musumeci insists, “Absolutely not, Daniela is tough.” Ciriani dismisses concerns: “It’s simply Monday.” Giovanni Donzelli of FdI suggests the “small crowd” was a deliberate snub of the opposition’s “provocation” regarding the resignation.
The League sees no scandal, especially after Matteo Salvini’s morning endorsement: “One is innocent until convicted in three levels of judgment. I don’t see why one should resign because of a notice of investigation or a referral to trial.”
This is Santanchè’s third no-confidence vote since joining Meloni’s government. The first was in summer 2023 in the Senate, followed by another in the Chamber last April, both rejected. The centre-right expects the same outcome: “Then, yes, we will be there.”
Opposition remains firm with no-confidence vote
The opposition remains firm, criticising what they call the “living conflict of interest” of the minister, her attachment to power, and her dishonesty with the public. In the centre-right, discomfort and coldness persist towards Santanchè, who remains determined to stay. Donzelli concludes, “The reflection that Santanchè had said she would do, apparently, she has done and therefore she has gone ahead.”
Santanchè appears unfazed. She arrived at Montecitorio half an hour before the Chamber convened at 2 p.m., wearing a cream suit and scarf, chatted with journalist Augusto Minzolini, had lunch at a restaurant, and smoked a cigarette in the courtyard. She entered the Chamber without comment beyond a “good morning everyone.”
The debate was already underway. She listened, spoke briefly with Musumeci, toook notes, and left before the final speech. The opposition reacted with frustration, and some Five Star members shouted “Shame!”
The opposition benches were also sparsely occupied, but Elly Schlein represented the Democrats, while Giuseppe Conte attended for the M5S. Neither spoke, but Conte later mocks Rampelli: “Thank goodness you came at least!”
In the evening on Tg3, Conte took a harsher tone: “There are serious accusations against the minister, even aggravated fraud for the improper use of Covid funds. We cannot allow this sense of impunity to a minister of our government who is bringing disgrace to the whole of Italy.”
Survey shows population in favour of Santanchè’s resignation
A YouTrend survey for Sky TG24 shows that 71% of Italians favour Santanchè’s resignation. 17% oppose, while 12% express no opinion. Opposition party voters predominantly support her stepping down, but the sentiment is widespread. Among Fratelli d’Italia voters, 58% back her resignation, as do 64% of League voters, 63% from Forza Italia/Noi Moderati, 89% from PD, 78% from M5S, and 95% from AVS.
The survey, conducted using the CAEI methodology between 6-7 February, included 804 interviewees representative of Italy’s adult population, stratified by gender, age, education, and ISTAT residence distribution. The margin of error is +/- 3.5% with a 95% confidence interval.
