Earthquake investigation, Acquaroli spent over two hours in front of prosecutors

Over two hours in front of prosecutors to speak as a person informed about the facts. On November 5, the president of the Marche Region, Francesco Acquaroli, was heard, as part of the investigation into post-earthquake reconstruction, by the anti-mafia district prosecutor Monica Garulli, and by the public prosecutors of the Ancona DDA Valeria Cigliola and Paolo Gubinelli.

Among the topics at the center of the conversation were those relating to the "rumors" received in 2025 about the alleged inappropriate behavior of the then head of cabinet, Fabio Pistarelli, who resigned in December 2025 and is now in prison on corruption charges. The investigation concerns an alleged system of corruption, fraud and mafia infiltration in public and private procurement linked to the 2016 earthquake and involves 51 suspects, with eight precautionary measures in prison and over 57 million in assets seized.

According to Acquaroli's story, it was the regional guarantor of human rights, Giancarlo Giulianelli, who suggested that he "could not trust" Pistarelli. The technical director of the Fermo health authority, Rocco Tirabasso, instead spoke to him about Pistarelli's "inappropriate behaviour". "He made me understand that there was an undue interest that had annoyed him," the president told the investigators. "He never admitted to me that he was putting pressure on me," he added, referring to Pistarelli. The president later denied having knowledge of the ongoing investigation.

"The events that were reported to him are exactly those that are the subject of the criminal investigation", attacks the group leader of the PD Valeria Mancinelli. "What emerges is disconcerting and unacceptable", echoes the Avs group leader, Andrea Nobili.

The political debate on the topic has been ongoing in the Marche region for weeks. First with the Regional Council opened in Muccia (Macerata) on 28 October - initially thought to celebrate ten years since the earthquake - with the opposition abandoning the Chamber. Then with the ten questions from the minority and a river debate lasting over six hours, in the session of 9 November, on the statements of Acquaroli, who defended himself by rejecting the allegations of links with the mafia and underlining his condition as a "victim" of the conduct of his former chief of staff. Pistarelli, meanwhile, is waiting, like some of the other eight arrested, for the review's decision on the requests to revoke his detention in prison.