ROME: Italy’s tourism minister resigned Wednesday after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged her to quit over allegations of fraud, the second such departure as the government reels from a referendum defeat.

Daniela Santanche had been under pressure for months after being investigated over allegations that a publishing house she formerly ran falsified its financial reports.

But until now she had refused to stand down, and Meloni had not publicly asked her.

Things changed after Meloni’s hard-right government on Monday lost a referendum on justice reforms, the premier’s first major defeat since taking office in October 2022.

Media reports said that in the wake of the loss, Meloni had moved to get rid of troublesome elements in her government.

Deputy Justice Minister Andrea Delmastro, who has his own legal woes, quit on Tuesday, as did Giusi Bartolozzi, chief of staff to the justice minister, who was criticised for her comments made during the referendum campaign.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026