Italy Venice's mayor under pressure in corruption scandal
The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, is coming under increasing pressure due to a corruption scandal in the city hall of the Italian lagoon city. The right-wing politician rejected all calls for his resignation in a turbulent meeting of the city council.
02.08.2024, 13:34
02.08.2024, 17:29
SDA
The public prosecutor's office is investigating the 62-year-old over allegations of bribery against his administration, but also over a property that belongs to him personally. Brugnaro has been in the news worldwide in recent months due to the introduction of an entrance fee for Venice.
In the city council, the mayor rejected all accusations. "I have done nothing wrong," said Brugnaro. "I will fight for my honor." In total, more than 20 suspects are under investigation, including his chief of staff. The traffic department head Renato Boraso, also a friend of Brugnaro's, was even arrested last month. More than two million euros were confiscated from him, the origin of which is unclear.
Property bought for five million - now allegedly worth 150 million
Brugnaro has been in office since 2015. The businessman is close to the right-wing governing party Forza Italia. The investigation also concerns a plot of land at the entrance to the lagoon on the mainland, which he bought a few years ago for five million euros. It is now said to be worth 150 million euros. According to Italian media reports, a wealthy investor from Singapore, who bought a palace on the Grand Canal relatively cheaply with the mayor's consent in 2018 and turned it into a luxury hotel, is interested. It is now being investigated whether there is a connection.
During the investigation, a recording of a telephone conversation between the mayor and the head of the transport department from March 2023 was also secured, which is dangerous for Brugnaro. In it, he can be heard insulting his confidant and appearing to be in the loop. The mayor says verbatim: "You don't listen to me. You don't understand shit. People tell me you're asking for money. I don't think you realize that. You're risking too much. I'm telling you: you have to be careful and control yourself better."
Internationally renowned thanks to five euro entrance fee
Brugnaro has also become internationally known in recent months thanks to the entrance fee for day tourists. On a total of 29 selected days, short-term visitors had to pay five euros to stay in Venice in a unique experiment. Next year, the fee is to be increased to up to ten euros.
