| Aldo Brancher | |
| Office: | Minister for Subsidiarity and Decentralization |
| Primeminister: | Silvio Berlusconi |
| Term Start: | 18 June 2010 |
| Term End: | 5 July 2010 |
| Office2: | Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies |
| Term Start2: | 21 May 2001 |
| Term End2: | 14 March 2013 |
| Constituency2: | Veneto 1 |
| Birth Date: | 30 May 1943 |
| Birth Place: | Trichiana, Veneto, Italy |
| Party: | Forza Italia (2013-present) |
| Otherparty: | Christian Democracy (1960s-1994)(supporter) Forza Italia (1999-2009) The People of Freedom (2009-2013) |
Aldo Brancher (born 30 May 1943; Trichiana, Veneto) is an Italian politician. He served as a minister without portfolio in the Government of Silvio Berlusconi for 17 days in June/July 2010 but was forced to resign due to a pending court case.
Before his political career, Brancher was a Pauline priest.[1] [2] He was a key figure in the publication of the Paulines' magazine, Famiglia Cristiana.[3] After leaving the priesthood, he worked for Berlusconi's advertising house, Publitalia '80, before moving on to Berlusconi's holding company, Fininvest.[3]
In 1993, while working for Fininvest, Brancher was caught up in the Tangentopoli political corruption scandal.[1] [3] [4] He served three months in San Vittore prison for false accounting and for illegally funding the Italian Socialist Party, but was released on a technicality following a ruling by the Court of Cassation.[3] [4] [5]
Brancher was elected to the 14th legislature of the Italian Chamber of Deputies in May 2001 and was re-elected in April 2006 and April 2008.[6] He was appointed as a Secretary of State with responsibility for reform on 12 May 2008.[6]
Brancher was named as a minister without portfolio, with specific responsibility for federalism, on 18 June 2010.[7] A few days later, his responsibility was changed to decentralisation as the Lega Nord – partners in Berlusconi's coalition Government – was concerned that his role would conflict with that of its leader, Umberto Bossi, who was Minister for Federal Reforms.[8] At the time of his appointment, Brancher was facing trial for alleged embezzlement during the 2005 takeover of Antonveneta.[1] [8] When, just a few days later, Brancher invoked an immunity law that protects ministers from prosecution, the opposition accused Berlusconi of making the appointment solely to save his friend from the court hearing.[1] [8] Giorgio Napolitano, the President of Italy, rejected Brancher's invocation of the right to immunity, suggesting that, as Brancher was a minister without portfolio, there was no actual Ministry work preventing him from standing trial.[9] Following the President’s comments, the opposition, along with members of Brancher’s own party, threatened a motion of no confidence unless he resigned.[1] Brancher acquiesced and announced his resignation during the opening day of his trial on 5 July 2010.[1] [10]