Ex farm minister Nunzia De Girolamo
was acquitted by a Benevento court Thursday of charges of
corruption in managing the local health authority (ASL) in the
southern Italian city.
De Girolamo, 45, who served as a centre-right agriculture
minister from late April 2013 to 26 January 2014 in centre-left
Democratic Party (PD) member Enrico Letta's government, was
among eight people acquitted by the court.
She was accused of conspiracy to commit crimes, extortion and
vote buying.
A prosecutor asked for a prison term of eight years and three
months for her.
De Girolamo married Francesco Boccia, a PD MP and minister for
regional affairs, on 23 December 2011.
They have a daughter named Gea.
De Girolamo, who is a member of former premier and media magnate
Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party, said
after the verdict was read out "justice has won, but I lost
seven years of my life".
De Girolamo is a TV personality who regularly comments on
politics and current affairs on Berlusconi's flagship channel,
Canale 5.
She came fifth in the Italian version of Dancing With The Stars
last year.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
