One hundred million in debt: from defaulters to luxury rentals, this is what weighs on the red balance of Forza Italia

On the day of the election of Antonio Tajani president of Forza Italia after the death of Berlusconi, for the party on the economic front the news is not the best. Although in fact the accounts in the red have improved slightly and show a surplus of 1 million 323 thousand euros, according to the latest balance sheet, closed on 31 December last (when the Cavaliere was still alive), the main creditor of the party, and in fact the sole owner remains the Berlusconi family. In fact, the former founder of the party has saved the finances of his political creature in recent years by supporting him with over 90 million euros.

The debts

The “total debts”, reads the minutes seen by Adnkronos of the meeting of the presidential committee held on June 13 in Rome (the day after the death of the blue leader), “is equal to 98 thousand 472.791 euros” and “the ‘most significant amount included in this last item” is represented, as in previous years, by the so-called ‘payables to other lenders’ for 90 million 433 thousand 600 euros: this figure constitutes the debt to Berlusconi, “which having paid as as guarantor of the previous debts existing towards the banks, which had granted a loan to our Movement, he took over the position of creditor”.

In particular, the interest expense accrued on debts to the former prime minister is zero: “On the principal amount paid, following the express waiver, interest calculated at the legal rate in force will no longer be calculated annually”, reads the document .

The economic support of Paolo Berlusconi

But there is also one of the party’s financiers Paolo Berlusconi, brother of the Knight who has repeatedly replenished the coffers of the Azzurri. The item “Guarantees (pledges, mortgages) to/from third parties” in fact includes an amount of 7 million relating to guarantees, issued in previous years, for 3 million by the chairman Silvio Berlusconi and for 4 million by Paolo Berlusconi “against the credit lines granted from a banking institution” to the party, it is explained in the explanatory note accompanying the statement. Papers in hand, debts to banks amount to 5 million 642 thousand 669 euros, an increase of 334 thousand 162 euros compared to the previous year.

The defaulters

But from the data of the budget for the year 2022 it also emerges that in FI many elected officials have not made the due payments. Morose, in short. “The party’s ailing financial situation” was helped by the insufficient influx of contributions and membership dues compared to what was expected”, writes the former treasurer in his report Alfred Messinanow a member of the presidency committee of FI, according to which “the reduction of elected parliamentarians, as well as the discontinuity of payments from them and from regional councilors represent the primary cause of the negative result of the typical management”.

In the balance sheet, viewed by Adnkronos, the Azzurri record a “decrease in the inflow of membership fees” of about 30% compared to last year, while “the collection of contributions has more than doubled compared to the year 2021″ Collection, the report reads, coming mainly from third party supporters who supported the Movement in the electoral campaigns supported in 2022”. In detail, the membership fees amounted to 251,658 euros, ie 112,337 euros less than in the previous year (equal to 363,995 euros).

The cost of renting the office in the center of Rome

In 2022, the rent of Forza Italia’s national headquarters in via in Lucina (in the center of Rome) cost 132 thousand euros. In the same year, the party founded by Berlusconi recorded overall charges of 4 million 787,493 euros, an increase of 59% compared to 2021. In detail, the FI financial statements show that the costs for services are equal to 785,139 euros, in line with those incurred last year.