House Speaker Roberto Fico said
Monday he agreed with the No.2 in his anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S), Alessandro Di Battista, that government partner
the League must repay 49 million euros its predecessor, the
League, owes the State in a party funding fraud case.
"Those who make mistakes must pay and sentences must be
respected," said Fico, referring to a ruling on which the League
led by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has pledged to repay the
sum in instalments of 600,000 euros a year, which would take
about 80 years.
Di Battista apparently implied that the repayment should
happen much faster.
On November 26 the Genoa appeals court on Monday upheld a one
year, 10 month term for former Northern League leader Umberto
Bossi and a three year nine month term for ex-treasurer
Francesco Belsito in the party funding fraud case.
Also upheld was the seizure of 49 million euros from the
Northern League, which will now be carried out by its successor,
Salvini's League.
On September 18 lawyers representing the League agreed on an
arrangement with prosecutors for the seizure of party funds
related to the convictions for fraud.
Under the arrangement, 100,000 euros will be confiscated
every two months for a total of 600,000 euros a year.
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