Court of Rome: Gianluca Savoini’s Illicit Monetary Dealings with Morocco’s Mohammed Khabbachi Confirmed, Orchestrating Biased Media Narrative
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a recent ruling, the court of Rome has officially confirmed that Gianluca Savoini, former spokesman for Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, received significant sums of money from Mohammed Khabbachi, an emissary of the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, for lobbying activities aimed at influencing European public opinion. The court’s decision validates the investigative work of Il Fatto Quotidiano, which first exposed this scandal four years ago.
According to court documents, Khabbachi paid tens of thousands of euros to Savoini during his tenure as the editorial director of the Agelle news agency. In exchange for these payments, Khabbachi ensured that favorable articles promoting the reign of Mohammed VI were disseminated in Italy, often surpassing the boundaries of objective reporting.
The court’s ruling shed light on a particular incident that took place in April 2016, when Savoini and Khabbachi met at a hotel in Paris. During this meeting, an envelope containing a staggering 150,000 euros in cash was exchanged between the two. However, an unexpected mishap occurred when another customer unexpectedly entered the bathroom, causing some of the banknotes to fall into the toilet. Savoini was then forced to retrieve and clean each note individually. This incident, initially reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano and supported by two credible sources, has been deemed true by the court.
Judge Corrado Bile, presiding over the defamation lawsuit filed by Khabbachi, ruled that the facts presented in the articles have been fully confirmed. The court’s examination of a witness called by Il Fatto Quotidiano’s defense revealed that the meeting between Savoini and Khabbachi did take place, and the exchange of the envelope did occur.
The purpose behind these illicit payments was also established during the trial. The court found that the Agelle news agency, for a fee, disseminated news tailored to Khabbachi’s desires, even if it meant distorting the objective truth. This revelation underscores the extent to which manipulation and influence were employed in shaping public opinion in favor of the Moroccan government.
This corrupt alliance between Savoini and Khabbachi was facilitated by a Northern League mission to Rabat in October 2015, in which Matteo Salvini himself participated. Khabbachi, former director general of the Moroccan national news agency Map and with close ties to the country’s secret services, played a crucial role in establishing this illicit collaboration.
Salvini’ subsequent statements praising Morocco as a “wonderful land” and advocating for investments in the country further highlight his involvement in this scandal. The court revealed that Salvini and Savoini continued to maintain relations with Khabbachi, meeting him for lunches and pivotal discussions regarding the dissemination of favorable news through Agelle.
The court’s decision serves as a resounding confirmation of Il Fatto Quotidiano’s journalistic integrity and a landmark victory in the fight against corruption and the manipulation of public discourse. The verdict implicates prominent figures in Italian politics and raises important questions about the integrity of lobbying activities and the credibility of news dissemination. As the truth comes to light, it is essential that further investigations take place to restore trust in our democratic processes and ensure the transparency of our media landscape.
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