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Fraud Probe Pushes Italian PM to Brink

Posted Oct 23, 07 6:48 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Italy's government neared meltdown last night as charges of fraud and embezzlement picked up steam. Prime Minister Romano Prodi and his justice minister are under investigation for diverting funds from the European Union to their own political party in order to shore up support during an election, reports the Guardian. Ministers are trading insults and Prodi's fragile majority is nearing collapse.

Prodi and Justice Minister Clemente Mastella have been accused of trying to derail the investigation with legal technicalities. The head prosecutor told an Italian TV station that the government pressured him to ignore the charges, which led Mastella to call for the resignation of the station's entire board.

Source Guardian (UK)

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Rome's Mayor Walter Veltroni, right, celebrates next to Italian Premier Romano Prodi after winning the primary vote to leader of a new party and the probable candidate for premier to run against conservative...   (Associated Press)
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi gestures while speaking during a final media conference at an EU summit in Lisbon, Friday, Oct. 19, 2007. Prodi's goverment is under investigation for corruption.   (Associated Press)
A man wearing a mask depicting Italian Premier Romano Prodi and dressed in prisoner's clothing, right, and a man wearing an Italian magistrate outfit, attend a right-wing National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale)...   (Associated Press)
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