Venice ex-mayor Brugnaro to stand trial for undeclared election expenses

Former Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro will face trial over allegations concerning his electoral campaign finances. A judge has ordered him to stand trial, with the investigation focusing on approximately 500,000 euros in expenses from his second mayoral bid that were allegedly not properly declared.

The case revolves around the financial accountability of Brugnaro's 2020 re-election campaign. Prosecutors contend that a significant sum was spent without the required financial reporting, raising questions about transparency in political fundraising and spending.

Brugnaro's defense team, led by lawyer Alessandro Rampinelli, has argued that the funds in question were not subject to declaration requirements. They maintain that the expenses were legitimate and did not need to be reported under electoral law. The upcoming trial will determine the validity of these claims and the former mayor's culpability.