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Italian Infrastructure Minister to resign over corruption links allegations

Xinhua, March 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Italian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi announced on Thursday his imminent resignation following a corruption scandal in which he was allegedly involved though not investigated.

"On Friday following a briefing to the Chamber, I will hand in my resignation," Lupi was quoted as saying by local media while recording a television interview.

"Politics is neither a job nor a passion. It is being able to serve the State. I have neither lost my honor nor my passion," he added.

Lupi had been under pressure over the past days over allegations of his involvement in a major corruption case regarding public contracts.

Four people, including former top official at the infrastructure ministry Ercole Incalza, were arrested in the case and more than 50 put under investigation earlier this week for alleged bribes linked to public works.

Contracts for Expo Milano 2015, the upcoming world exposition in Milan, and the TAV high-speed link between Lyon and Turin, as well as various highways and railways segments in Italy were targeted by the illegal system, according to prosecutors.

It emerged from the case that influential businessman Stefano Perotti, who was among the arrested, also procured an unnecessary job as "steady supervisor" to Lupi's son Luca.

The minister denied any wrongdoing and resisted pressure to resign saying that he "never asked favors" for his son and that to do so "would have been a serious error."

But wiretap evidence published later by local media included a recording of Lupi asking Incalza to meet his son.

Further wiretaps indicated that the official asked Perotti to arrange a job for Luca, who also allegedly received a Rolex watch worth more than 10,000 euros (10,641 U.S. dollars) as a present.

Lupi, a member of the New Center Right (NCD) party of which the head is Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, said on Thursday that his resignation was "the best decision" though still claimed he has done nothing wrong.

Lupi said he does not intend to abandon politics, but his stepping down from the minister post will "strengthen the government" of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi which is struggling to reform the crisis-hit country. Endit