Italy’s Scandal Probe Names 2 Ex-Premiers

Magistrates notified two former prime ministers on Monday that they are under investigation in Italy’s wide-ranging corruption scandal.

Giulio Andreotti, a leading figure in Italian politics since World War II and senator-for-life, was put on notice by magistrates in Milan, where the scandal inquiry began a year ago, that he is under investigation for alleged violation of party funding rules, state TV reported.

He is already under investigation in Sicily for alleged Mafia links.

A lawyer for the Christian Democratic leader said the seven-time premier wants to meet with prosecutors to prove he engaged in no wrongdoing.

Milan prosecutors are reportedly investigating whether Andreotti, 74, helped arrange a $200,000 payoff to the Social Democrats, a small party that has several times been a partner in Christian Democrat-dominated governments.

Andreotti was the most notable personality in Monday’s scandal roll call. But more than 20 political and business officials were arrested and nearly 100 advised they were under investigation.

In Rome, magistrates notified former Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani that he was under investigation on the same charge of illegal party financing.

Forlani, 67, who briefly headed a government in 1981, was secretary of Italy’s Christian Democrats from February, 1989, until last October.

At least 2,500 political and business figures have either been arrested or placed under investigation, effectively discrediting much of Italy’s postwar ruling class.

Most of the investigations deal with alleged kickbacks, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, paid by business firms in return for public works contracts.