Woman found dead in Lake Lugano: Zali affair resurfaces in Ticino
A 52-year-old Swiss woman linked to the downfall of State Councillor Claudio Zali was found unconscious in Lake Ceresio. An investigation is underway.
Death at Lake Ceresio revives Zali scandal
A 52-year-old Swiss woman living in the Lugano region was found unconscious in the waters of Lake Ceresio on Tuesday. Witnesses at the scene brought her back to shore, but attempts at resuscitation by rescue services and police officers were unsuccessful. Ticino learned of the news on Wednesday.
According to Le Temps, the deceased would be the woman who had published, on an Instagram profile since deleted, compromising audio recordings of Claudio Zali, then State Councillor and president of the Ticino government affiliated with the Lega. The cantonal police refuse to confirm her identity, but the information has been taken up by the entire Ticino press.
In telephone conversations recorded without his knowledge, several years ago, Zali stated that he had struck a woman he described as a "harasser" and encouraged his interlocutor to do the same. The release of these files triggered a political shockwave in Ticino.
These revelations had precipitated the fall of the politician, already weakened by a separate affair: an intervention on behalf of the 14-year-old son of an acquaintance, incarcerated at La Farera prison. Confronted with these two scandals simultaneously, Claudio Zali had announced his immediate resignation from the presidency of the government at the end of July, then that of his mandate as State Councillor at the end of September.
The death of the woman at the origin of the recordings revives questioning within the canton. Voices are now calling for the opening of an independent investigation, in parallel with the investigation already underway conducted by the cantonal authorities.
Source: Le Temps