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Italian PM takes over infrastructure, transport ministry portfolio temporarily

Xinhua, March 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Monday took over as the interim infrastructure and transport minister after Maurizio Lupi resigned last week amid a corruption scandal in public works.

Renzi was appointed interim minister by President Sergio Mattarella until a replacement for Lupi is found, which according to government sources quoted by ANSA news agency, should happen soon.

Lupi, a member of the New Center-Right (NCD) party led by Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, stepped down last Friday amidst allegations of his involvement in a graft case regarding public contracts.

The scandal led to the arrest of four people, including a former top official at the infrastructure ministry. More than 50 people were put under investigation.

It emerged from wiretap evidence that an influential businessman among the arrested procured a job for Lupi's son Luca, who also allegedly received a Rolex watch worth more than 10,000 euros (about 10,925 U.S. dollars) as a present. Neither Lupi, nor his son, however, were put under investigation in the case.

Prosecutors said 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. Endit