MILAN (AP) 鈥� 鈥檚 legally troubled tourism minister resigned on Wednesday in the fallout of Premier failed referendum on judicial reforms.
The departure of Daniela Santanch猫 is a sign that Italy鈥檚 3 1/2-year-old right-wing government has been weakened by Monday’s of a key measure.
Meloni had demanded Santanch猫鈥榮 resignation after two justice ministry officials stepped down in the wake of voters鈥� resounding rejection of judicial reforms in a vote that was widely seen as a de facto confidence test on Meloni’s leadership. In a statement on Tuesday, Meloni said she hoped Santanch猫 would make a similar decision 鈥渋n the same spirit of institutional sensitivity.鈥�
Santanch猫, who was seen as a key member of Meloni鈥檚 party, has been politically damaged by multiple long-term , including alleged false accounting and alleged fraud. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Despite her legal woes, Santanch猫 survived a no-confidence motion in 2023 and had long enjoyed Meloni鈥檚 support.
Santanch猫 announced her resignation in a statement to Meloni, in which she said she would 鈥渙bey鈥� Meloni鈥檚 wishes and acknowledged an abrupt interaction on Tuesday following the prime minister’s resignation demand. She said she did not want to be made 鈥渁 scapegoat鈥� for the referendum defeat, underlining that the measure passed in her northern region of Lombardy and district.
鈥淚 won鈥檛 hide from you a degree of bitterness over how my ministerial journey has ended, but in my life I am accustomed to paying my own debts 鈥� and often those of others,鈥欌�� Santanch猫 wrote.
The judicial reforms had been billed by Meloni鈥檚 coalition as a key step toward streamlining Italy鈥檚 judicial system, which has been criticized as being slow, bureaucratic and vulnerable to political influence.
But critics argued that the proposed measures risked concentrating too much power in the executive branch. Opposition parties, civil society groups and legal associations mounted a unified front, warning that the reform could undermine institutional checks and balances.
The referendum defeat after a campaign has raised questions about the stability and cohesion of Meloni鈥檚 governing coalition.
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