Venice names De Michelis in corruption inquiry

ROME - The former Italian foreign minister, Gianni de Michelis, faces investigation by Venice magistrates inquiring into alleged corruption involving public-works contracts, judicial sources said yesterday.

Mr de Michelis, a flamboyant figure who was foreign minister for three years until last month, was advised he was under investigation for corruption by magistrates in the city, where he has his power-base.

'Having read in the press, in the last few days, exhaustive accounts concerning the opinions of the investigating magistrates . . . I cannot claim to be surprised,' Mr de Michelis said in a statement.

'But I am hurt and embittered by the use of unfounded socio-political fantasies by the judiciary,' he added.

Giorgio Casadei, a secretary to Mr de Michelis in Venice, was one of five people arrested on charges of corruption and violating the laws relating to financing political parties last week.

The arrests are part of an investigation into the awarding of contracts for public works which include the building of a motorway, an aqueduct and a water-purification plant in the north-eastern Veneto region, where Venice is located.

Mr de Michelis is a member of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI), worst hit by a city-hall corruption scandal centred on the Italian financial capital of Milan and in which more than 60 local businessmen and politicians have been arrested.

The Veneto investigation is one of a number which have rippled out across the country since the Milan scandal broke last February.

The Christian Democrat Carlo Bernini, transport minister in the previous government, had already been notified he is under investigation by Venice magistrates.

Mr Bernini is a former president of the Veneto region.

Mr de Michelis denied press allegations there had been a pact between the Christian Democrats and the Socialists to share power and kick-backs on public contracts in the region.

'While waiting for justice to run its course and prove that I had absolutely no involvement in the accusations levelled at me, I will fight on the political front to prove there is no foundation to accusations of a 'sharing-out' agreement.'

Mr de Michelis, a larger-than- life character whose penchant for disco dancing was almost as well publicised as any of his foreign- policy initiatives, was not included in the new government formed by the Socialist Prime Minister, Giuliano Amato, at the end of last month.

Mr Amato heads a four-party alliance dominated by the Christian Democrats and the Socialists.

Last week Venetian judges arrested the Christian Democratic president of the Veneto region, Gianfranco Cremonese, and four other public officials allegedly involved in kick-backs in public works contracts worth hundreds of million of dollars.