Italy's President Sergio Mattarella is demanding answers from the justice ministry regarding a presidential pardon controversially granted to Nicole Minetti, a former associate of the late Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Minetti, convicted of facilitating prostitution in connection with Berlusconi's infamous "bunga bunga" parties and embezzlement, received clemency in February.
The pardon, initially approved on humanitarian grounds, is now under investigation by Milan prosecutors and Interpol due to allegations of false declarations. The scandal emerges at a difficult time for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, with opposition politicians intensifying calls for Justice Minister Carlo Nordio's resignation.
Minetti, described as a "showgirl" but also a qualified dental hygienist, denies any wrongdoing. Her legal team asserts the claims are "unfounded." The pardon request was reportedly based on her and her partner's care for an adopted child with serious health issues in Uruguay. However, an investigation by Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper suggests irregularities in the adoption process and misleading information provided for the pardon, prompting the renewed scrutiny.