«I thank Meloni for not asking me anything»
Sgarbi thanked the government «and in particular Meloni for not having asked me for anything, not even this resignation, and for having said to wait for the indication of the Antitrust. The indication has arrived, it can be challenged, but it has arrived. At this point I leave the scene, I thank Meloni and my government colleagues because they didn’t ask for an advance” added Sgarbi, underlining that “up to now Meloni has always been a guarantor. At the moment I’m not asking you anything, I’ll send you the letter this evening.”
The opposition’s motion
On 15 February the Chamber would have discussed the opposition’s motion to ask the government to revoke Sgarbi’s position as undersecretary. Exactly the same day on which the Antitrust should rule on the incompatibility between his extra-government activities and the role he plays at Mibact. According to what we learn, the proceeding may have already been closed and the conclusions could be communicated in the early days of next week, perhaps on Monday itself.
The investigation in Macerata for money laundering
The art critic is being investigated by the Macerata prosecutor’s office for laundering cultural assets for the painting attributed to the seventeenth-century painter Rutilio Manetti (1571-1639), one of the greatest exponents of seventeenth-century Siena, stolen in 2013 from the Buriasco Castle near Pinerolo and reappeared in Lucca in 2021, as unpublished property of the art critic from Ferrara. and seized on 12 January from the undersecretary. At the center of the story is the large 17th century canvas depicting «a judge condemning a man with a venerable face from the profile of St. Peter’s by an unknown author – according to the police report – which recalls the painters Solimena and Cavallino, the proceeds of a theft in the castle of Buriasco (Turin) reported by the owner Margherita Buzio on 14 February 2013 to the Carabinieri of Vigone”. Sgarbi is accused of having carried out on the same painting, in collaboration with unknown people, «operations aimed at hindering its criminal provenance, by having a torch inserted at the top left of the canvas, attributing the work to the painter Rutilio Manetti entitled “The capture of Saint Peter” and affirming ownership of the painting”. Sgarbi explained that he found it in a property purchased by the Cavallini-Sgarbi foundation. A work that was then exhibited in 2021, presented as an unpublished work by Rutilio Manetti, in Lucca in the exhibition curated by Sgarbi entitled “The painters of light”.
The lecturer undersecretary in the Antitrust crosshairs
Participation in conferences, exhibition openings, book sales. Sgarbi’s activities have ended up in the sights of the Antitrust. The investigation was opened last October after reports from the Ministry of Culture regarding possible incompatibilities with the government role. The proceedings would have already been closed and the conclusions could be communicated in the early days of next week, perhaps Monday. Sgarbi himself explained that he had received a letter from the Authority “which had accepted two anonymous letters, invited by the Minister of Culture”. In short – he continued – «the indication has arrived. It can be challenged, but it has arrived.” On the other hand, already from the resolution with which the AGCM had started the investigation, some indications filtered through, according to which the activities carried out by Sgarbi could have been in conflict with the provisions of the Frattini law regarding conflicts of interest. The legislation establishes that a holder of government offices, in carrying out their duties, cannot “exercise professional activities in matters related to the government office, of any nature, even if unpaid” and that they can “only receive the proceeds for the services carried out before taking office”.
Sgarbi’s defense
Sgarbi had defended himself by arguing that his case did not fall within this category, underlining that there was no document signed by him, even just a letter, with which he could have facilitated his interests. After the start of the investigation, the Antitrust had expanded the investigation to the sale of his books with personalized dedication on his website, because – it was explained – “they could integrate the details of significant entrepreneurial activity”. The first details of the investigation were given by Fatto Quotidiano, in an article last October in which it was explained that Sgarbi had earned “at least 300 thousand euros, from February to today alone” for conferences, speeches and television appearances. The money – the article claimed – “is for Undersecretary Sgarbi, but is also given to his head of secretariat and his partner”, in what the newspaper defined as “a real industry founded on the art of procuring activities that they also carry out in the light of the sun, but whose remuneration remains in the shadows”.