Liberation movement
In the 90s, after the break-up of the Christian Democratic Party, Abelli joined Forza Italia and became close with the Communion and Liberation movement and with Roberto Formigoni, who entrusted him with running the regional healthcare as President of the Healthcare Commission of the Lombardy Region. Between 1996 and 1997 Abelli received a bribe of 72 million lire from Giuseppe Poggi Longostrevi who was later involved in the main scandal of corruption of Lombard healthcare.