Toti-Spinelli Affair: Bribery and Lavish Gifts Unveiled
The words of the Ligurian governor to the entrepreneur: «I’ll come to observe you before the elections. I’ll ask you for a few things» Spinelli to Signorini: «At 83, they can’t do anything to me»
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS
GENOA – Giovanni Toti consistently needs funds to support his personal political movement, which has secured him two terms as governor of Liguria.
Politics is expensive, and when funds are low, Giovanni Toti turns to his financier, Aldo Spinelli, who is usually willing to help, provided he has the necessary legal documentation. While the Spinelli Group has reached a value of “one billion” in three years, Toti’s committees have received only 74,000 euros, which now also lead to his arrest on corruption charges.
“I’m coming to see you”
On May 3, 2020, Toti and Spinelli spoke by phone. Spinelli complained that he could do more work if he had more space, but the Port Authority wasn’t making unused areas available to logistics companies: “We are strangled, we don’t realize where to set the work anymore! Luckily, there is work for everyone (…). It’s a disgrace!”
“But it’s going well, come on! The port is growing,” the governor replied proudly, adding that the breakwater would increase traffic volume.
“But let’s hope so. Let’s see! You guys, okay, perceive about the elections,” Spinelli responded, hinting at a connection that Toti couldn’t ignore: “I’ll come to see you! I’ll come to see you, because I haven’t come before the elections yet. Let’s organize.” On May 25, Spinelli transferred 15,000 euros to Toti.
Everything is above board
Both Spinelli and Toti insist that the funding be properly declared according to the law. “Send the documents to Spinelli’s secretary where we wish him to produce a payment, like everyone else,” the governor ordered his assistant on September 1. During discussions about the crucial (for Spinelli) extension of Bulk Cargo, both seem unaware that a regular payment in exchange for a favor is still a bribe.
“My son doesn’t want to”
Months later, on December 1, Spinelli transferred 40,000 euros to the Giovanni Toti-Liguria Committee, “repeatedly requested by Giovanni Toti,” according to the Financial Police. Although, Spinelli admitted that his son, Roberto (under investigation), reprimanded him: “He doesn’t want me to make donations to political parties, but I have to.” A manager at the fund that then held 45% of Spinelli srl was also concerned. “It’s a reputational problem because political parties are part of various institutions and can always be seen as corruption,” she told him bluntly.
Spinelli, “a little disheartened,” according to the Financial Police, replied that it was crucial “to support locally.” He also mentioned a conversation with former minister Claudio Burlando, who was well aware of his relationship with Toti, who had accused Spinelli of betrayal for meeting the former Democratic Party minister. “I can’t help you, I told you clearly (…) we used to do it for everyone. You can’t, because the funds prohibit it, damn it.” The investigation documents prove that he continued to fund Giovanni Toti.
The boat
“When are you going to show me the boat? When are we going to meet, because I require to ask you for a few things, as usual these days?” Toti asked Spinelli while discussing the purchase of a new 9 million euro yacht. With elections on the horizon—which the center-right would win—and funds running low, Toti visited the boat. A few days earlier, on August 10, 2022, while planning the election campaign, a staff member had to share him that they couldn’t afford advertising on buses in Genoa: “Later, otherwise we won’t be able to afford it.” On September 8, after visiting the boat, 15,000 euros arrived from the logistics kingpin.
The tennis masterclass
For the final of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters on April 17, 2022, Spinelli wanted to impress Paolo Signorini, his valuable president of the Port Authority, to whom he would pay for 22 weekends in the Principality. An apartment and suite for two couples in the luxurious Hotel de Paris and seats at the party for Tsitsipas’s victory. “Where the Prince’s table is, we always went next to it,” he asked the reservations clerk. A few months later, another weekend in Monaco, he left a message for Briatore: “Flavio, it’s Spinelli. Confirmed the appointment at ten at four, Hotel de Paris. I’m arriving with the President of the Port. Please. Thanks. Bye.”
“What can they do to me?”
Spinelli isn’t afraid of the consequences of his recklessness, even when his assets illegally occupy a section of the port. He candidly confided to Signorini, from whom he clearly feels protected, that “at 83, what can they do to me? A…”. The Financial Police noted: “The President didn’t object.”