Former League Treasurer Francesco Belsito claims to have left the embattled party with a surplus of 40 million euros, he told Il Fatto Quotidiano.

 “After my resignation in 2012, another 19 million linked to the Bossi elections entered the party coffers, because the repayments were staggered over the years,” Mr Belsito said. “And I imagine that repayments have arrived for later elections. There was money.”

 When asked what happened to the funds, he said – “I think they have been spent. How, I do not know. I don’t want to say that there is anything illegal.”

 Mr Belsito denies he is speaking out of revenge – “I say things as they are. I am ready for a confrontation with Roberto Maroni and Matteo Salvini,” he said. “But on the facts. It’s not worth talking with tweets.”

 As to his version of events – “The treasurer is the one who must try to finance the demands of the party leaders,” Mr Belsito said. “And many at that time were asking. So many. They came to me and asked for money for party initiatives, for electoral parties and for other things.

 “They dumped me. But now comes the good part: in Milan, in order for the trial to go ahead, the League, as well as me, must even sue Bossie for embezzlement," he said. "It will be fun.”

 cc