Premier Giorgia Meloni said Saturday
that she felt no embarrassment after Tourism Daniela Santanchè
was indicted in a case regarding her business interests and
denied being in a battle to convince the minister to step down.
Santanchè, a lawmaker for Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy
(FdI) party, has been sent to trial for alleged false accounting
at her former publishing company Visibilia.
"Over the last few days I have heard groundless reconstructions
(of the case), which I realize my silence may also have
fuelled," Meloni said after arriving in Jeddah to start a
three-day visit of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
"There is no tug-of-war, concern or embarrassment.
"I don't believe that an indictment is in itself a reason to
resign.
"I also think that Minister Santanchè is working excellently.
"The assessment that needs to be made, if anything, is on how
much this could impact her work as a minister.
"This is what I don't have a clear idea about at the moment."
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