Blow to Berlusconi as new minister quits

Silvio Berlusconi’s crisis-hit government was dealt a fresh blow on the 5 July 2010 when a newly appointed minister abruptly announced his resignation while on trial for embezzlement.

Aldo Brancher became Italy’s second minister to quit the centre-right government in as many months when he told a Milan court he was resigning at once to defend his innocence in a case related to the 2005 takeover battle for Antonveneta bank.

ESO: Background information: Italian minister quits over property allegations http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-minister-quits-over-property-allegations/

Corriere della Sera, 5.7.10: Federation-style Solution Looms at Berlusconi-Fini Showdown http://www.corriere.it/International/english/articoli/2010/07/05/federation-style-solution-silvio-berlusconi.shtml

---