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Presidential pardon for Nicole Minetti puts pressure on the Ministry of Justice and the Meloni government...
Nicole Minetti, Silvio Berlusconi's former high-profile aide and a central figure in Italy's infamous "bunga bunga" scandal, has returned to another political controversy that is capturing the country's attention.
She has returned to the center of political debate after a presidential pardon, granted earlier this year, became headline news and a major legal and political problem for Giorgia Meloni's government.
Italian magistrates are reviewing whether the humanitarian reasons presented in the pardon request were presented correctly, after reports raised doubts about key elements of the case.
These developments prompted Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who had approved the pardon in February, to take the unusual step of publicly asking the justice ministry to re-examine the file.
"The president has ordered the urgent collection of necessary information to verify the accuracy of what has been reported by the media," a letter from his office to the justice ministry said.
Minetti's case is linked to the scandal that marked the final years of Berlusconi's rule.
In the so-called “bunga bunga” case, a term used for the former prime minister’s private parties, the courts found that she had helped recruit women for activities where participants were paid to attend and, in some cases, provide sexual services.
She was ultimately sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison for procuring prostitution, as well as another 13 months for misappropriation of public funds.
The pardon was based on the need to care for a child adopted in Uruguay, described as seriously ill and requiring constant care abroad. This claim is now at the center of the investigation.
Reports suggest that the child, a boy, may not have been an orphan, with indications that his biological parents were still alive and had opposed the adoption. The hospitals named in the request reportedly have no records of the child's treatment, while Uruguayan media have raised suspicions of irregularities in the adoption procedure.
The adoption itself is under scrutiny, with Uruguayan media highlighting the possibility of violations during the process.
More broadly, the case is highlighting shortcomings in the verification process. Key elements appear to have been assessed mainly on the basis of documents submitted by Minetti's legal team, without direct verifications with the Uruguayan authorities. Milan prosecutors are now conducting new checks through international cooperation channels.
Minetti has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the information presented in the request was accurate and calling the allegations against her “unfounded.” The case is putting the justice ministry under renewed pressure, just weeks after the resignations of a deputy minister and chief of staff.
"We have documents that show that we have respected all procedures 101%," Justice Minister Carlo Nordio declared. Opposition parties have called for his resignation, while Meloni has supported the Justice Minister.
“This procedure has followed the same path as all the others and has been implemented in full compliance with the law and established practice,” she declared at a press conference, stressing her confidence in Nordios and ruling out any resignation. /Adapted from Euractiv/
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