Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche will face trial for alleged falsification of financial statements at her former publishing company, a Milan court ruled on Friday.

Santanche, a prominent figure in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, denies any wrongdoing.

She is accused of committing fraud during her tenure as chair and CEO of Visibilia, a media publisher and advertising agency.

This marks the second trial involving a Meloni minister, following Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who was acquitted in December over charges related to his detention of a migrant boat.

Santanche’s lawyer, Nicolo Pelanda, responded to the ruling, saying, “Prosecutors claim the forecasts in the company’s business plan were overly optimistic. While this leaves us with a bitter taste, we are confident we can prove Santanche’s lack of involvement.”

The trial is set to begin in March.

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Following the court decision, opposition parties have called for Santanche’s resignation.

If she steps down, she would become the second minister in Meloni’s government to resign after a sex scandal forced the culture minister to leave last year.

Meloni has so far refrained from commenting on whether Santanche will remain in her post if the trial proceeds.

Santanche is also under investigation in two other cases, including one for alleged benefit fraud.

Milan prosecutors claim that Visibilia, which Santanche sold before joining the government in 2022, fraudulently collected government redundancy funds during the pandemic for staff who continued to work.

Italy’s highest court will decide by the end of the month whether this case should be transferred to Rome, with a subsequent decision on whether Santanche should stand trial.

Additionally, Santanche faces an investigation regarding the bankruptcy of Ki Group-Bioera, an organic food company she co-managed.

Reported by CHANNELS