Milan Mayor Sala is under investigation in an urban planning investigation: he will report to the City Council on Monday.

While the Democratic Party is currently very cautious about Mayor Sala's position, the party is instead pushing for the resignation of Councilor Tancredi, for whom the prosecutor's office has requested house arrest. Tancredi met with the mayor and then his lawyers yesterday.

The legal troubles of the Sicilian leaders of the Brothers of Italy, accused of corruption? "I've been following the story, just as I've been following the urban planning scandals in Milan involving the Democratic Party," said League leader Matteo Salvini, who was on the island today, in an interview with La Sicilia. "I remain a supporter of due process," he added, "also because for years I was charged in Palermo for stopping the arrival of illegal immigrants."

"I've been mayor and I know how difficult it is to say no to a zoning change or to reduce land use, and how hard it was to make Turin the only major city to give back land instead of consuming it. But a disturbing picture emerges from Milan, and Sala must step aside. Hearing the right-wing preaching, however, is unacceptable: not only have they dismantled the justice system to save white-collar criminals—from abuse of office to wiretapping to our corruption scandal—but a few months ago they voted for the disgusting Save Milan bill alongside the Democratic Party. It was clear that Milan was in a bubble of real estate speculation, but they were the ones who voted for the law, and we were there opposing it from day one. Now the Save Milan bill is stalled in the Senate only because they were scared, but they can't undo what they've done." This was stated by Chiara Appendino, vice president of the Five Star Movement, speaking on Agorà estate on Rai3.

by Alessandra Corica July 17, 2025

"Mayor Sala's statements, according to which it's unacceptable to learn from the press that he's under investigation, are laughable. I'm tempted to say, 'Welcome to the club.' The center-right has always fought to prevent precisely these distortions, while on the other side there's never been a shred of dignity in saying that no one, regardless of whether they're political or not, can learn from the press that they're under investigation. Journalists can't know before the people directly involved; press releases shouldn't come out of prosecutors' offices." This is what Forza Italia senator and vice president of the Senate, Licia Ronzulli, told Sky Tg24.

"From what we're learning from the newspapers, the investigation into the city of Milan, which apparently involves Mayor Sala, appears very serious, important, and even serious in terms of the accusations. However, I can only rely on an absolutely protective stance, which must apply to both political allies and adversaries. From this perspective, I read a very balanced interview with former Mayor Albertini, who experienced and lived through legal issues that were devastating, even personally, but which in some cases ultimately ended in nothing. Therefore, for me, the presumption of innocence until a final assessment is made is the only course of action. And I especially urge Sala's opponents to avoid political declarations of guilt or innocence in the face of a serious matter that also deserves rapid investigation." This was stated this morning on Omnibus on La7 by Riccardo Magi, Secretary of +Europa.

Alessandro Verri, leader of the League party in the City Council, is clear: "We will be in the square this afternoon to demand the resignation of the council, which is no longer in a position to govern the city. It's impossible to move forward: who, for example, should present the resolution to the City Council for the sale of San Siro? We are calling for the resignation not because of the legal issues, on which we are adamant, but for a political reason: this majority has now demonstrated its inability to continue the projects it initiated; the example of Piazzale Loreto is clear. And how could the municipal offices themselves approve new projects at this point, like the one for the stadium? If before the city was blocked, now it will be closed. And the majority itself no longer supports Mayor Sala: the step back is necessary."

Enrico Fedrighini, elected as an independent with the Sala list, now a mixed group supporting the majority, has been a highly critical voice in the council, including on the issue of the sale of San Siro : "Sala and the council must certainly clarify matters. The first thing I expect is for the mayor to come to the Council to report and explain what is happening: the important step would be to admit that he was wrong, this has never been done before. I believe that beyond the criminal issue, there is a huge problem that has already been highlighted for some time: this is demonstrated by the fact that already in 2020, when I had been a few months in the City Council, the first thing I did was present a motion that was approved by the Council, which highlighted the risks of adopting excessively simplified procedures from an urban planning perspective, and proposed bringing the approval of projects back to the council chamber. The motion was, however, deliberately ignored: why? Because it was decided that the attractiveness of large capital to Milan had to be played on timeframes and procedures that benefited investors and punished the public. In this situation, privileges and influences from various parties come into play, allowing some to move faster than others, in a context in which the role of the public is eclipsed."

Alessandro Sorte, regional coordinator of Forza Italia Lombardy, commented on the investigation: "Those who are now calling for the mayor's resignation because of a formal investigation have a completely different political culture than ours. When an initiative similar to the 5 Star Movement's is launched, we should ask ourselves where they're going wrong. I believe that Milan's municipal administration has truly brought the city to the brink, a paralyzed city, a failure after 15 years of government visible to all. However, in our view, the center-right should focus on a proposal of high quality. Those who care about Milan must remember that elections aren't won or lost through an investigation: we need to find a mayoral candidate who can restore Milan to a fully functioning city with an international vision and lift it out of the center-left swamp. Several names are already on the table."

Riccardo Truppo, leader of the Brothers of Italy (FdI) group in Milan's City Hall: "The time for 'I'll do it all' is over. It's time for answers. First and foremost, political ones. Legally, each of the suspects will have plenty of time to explain their position. But politics shouldn't waste time. Where is the Milanese left, always ready to lecture? What will happen to the stadium? Where will they find the serenity to lead Milan through major challenges like the Olympics in the coming months? It's clear that the resignation of this government is the only serious option on the table. The Democratic Party shouldn't use the mayor with a clay pot. They should assume their political responsibilities and take action."

Carlo Monguzzi, Milan city councilor, Europa Verde group. Mayor Beppe Sala: "It's worse than Tangentopoli. The mayor should report and explain things thoroughly, or everyone will go home. Tangentopoli was characterized by extremely serious corruption that influenced certain political decisions. Here, however, it's an entire urban planning and construction system that favors private investors, making it much more serious. The only thing that can be done immediately is to stop everything, starting with the sale of the San Siro stadium. The mayor's attitude is unacceptable. Whether he's under investigation or not, he's still, based on the prosecutor's findings, deeply implicated. He should stop playing dumb, saying I wasn't there, and if I was, I was asleep. Either transparency and legality are restored, or we go home with the ignominy of having handed Milan over to the right. And Tancredi's resignation and an apology to the city are obviously urgent."

Meanwhile, within the Democratic Party, even at the national level, there is concern "about the opening of a new political case. " "Everyone wants to read the documents first," says a national leader, and then there could even be a meeting in Rome on the issue later this morning or this afternoon. The belief within the Democratic Party is that this is not, however, another "Prato case," where Democratic Party mayor Ilaria Bugetti resigned in June after being investigated for corruption.

The mayor arrived by car a short while ago at his office in Palazzo Marino without making any statement. At 9:30 a.m., he meets with his councilors for a previously scheduled council meeting. With tight-lipped lips in Piazza della Scala, the councilors trickle in but say nothing.