Italy’s Northern League suffered another blow to its prestige on Monday when the son of its founder became the latest victim of a growing scandal over misuse of party funds.
Renzo Bossi (24) resigned as a regional counsellor of the Lombardy regional government, four days after his father Umberto (70) stepped down as national party leader. Both resignations came in the wake of an investigation by Milan magistrates over misuse of funds the party received from the state for electoral campaigns. Renzo Bossi, who was seen as an eventual heir apparent to lead the party that once held a pivotal position in Italian politics, was one of the beneficiaries of a slush fund managed by the party’s former treasurer, according to media reports. – (Reuters)