Sicilian Fratelli d’Italia representative in corruption probe

 ROME – Elvira Amata, a Sicilian regional alderwoman for tourism and sport, representing Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia party, was set to appear at preliminary hearing at Palermo’s high-court Jan. 13, after being placed under investigation on suspicion of collusion with a local business woman, judicial sources said Wednesday. 

 According to the findings of the investigation conducted by the Italian Financial Guard, Amata was allegedly found to have been in collusion with local businesswoman Marcella Cannariato, wife of Tommoaso Dragotto, the founder of the car rental company, Sicily by Car, according to the sources quoted by Fatto Quotidiano newspaper.

 Cannariato allegedly promised to hire the councillor's nephew, Tommaso Paolucci, who was not under investigation, at A&C Broker Srl, where Cannariato is the legal representative. She also allegedly paid for Amata’s nephew's accommodation at the "Leone Suite B&B" in Palermo between September 2023 and March 2024, which amounted to 4,590.90 euros in total. According to the prosecution, in return Amata’s Tourism Department would provide public funding to the tune of 30,000 euros for the "XXIII edition of Women, Economy and Power" event, which was being promoted by the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, of which Cannariato was the regional representative before she resigned following this investigation. 

  A request for indictment of the president of the regional assembly, Gaetano Galvagno, was also pending, according to judicial sources.  According to il Fatto Quotidiano, Galvagno, who is another Melonian politican, was “the heir apparent to Senate President Ignazio La Russa, who was also under investigation in the same line of inquiry for corruption, embezzlement, forgery and fraud.”

 This latest revelation comes after a long series of corruption scandals within the Sicilian regional government and according to insiders, another reshuffle cannot be ruled out as the president is forced to reconsider Amata’s position. 

 All may not be lost, however, for the embattled tourism councilor, seeing as a precedent for those accused of corruption being allowed to remain in office has already been set. Luca Sammartino, the Leghista and former vice-president of the Sicilian region and was banned from public office for 12 months following various accusations of corruption. Despite facing serious accusations of corruption, during the period in which Sammartino was acquitted of one count electoral corruption but still awaiting trial for other charges levied against him, he was awarded the role of agriculture councilor in September 2025.  

 Mounting corruption scandals withing the regional government have led to calls for the president himself, Renato Schifani, to resign. One local MP, Ismaele La Vardera, in particular has heavily criticized the regional president commenting that, “Schifani should look to recover some dignity, remove Councilor Amata immediately and then resign, given the enormous amount of damage he has done here over the last three years.” 

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