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Rome mayor resigns amid expenses scandal Rome mayor resigns amid expenses scandal
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The mayor of Rome has resigned amid a row over tens of thousands of dollars in expenses which he charged to the city – a scandal that the already unpopular mayor did not have the political strength to endure. The mayor of Rome has resigned amid a row over tens of thousands of euros in expenses which he charged to the city – a scandal that the already unpopular mayor did not have the political strength to endure.
Related: Pope's dislike of Rome mayor revealed in prank call on radio programmeRelated: Pope's dislike of Rome mayor revealed in prank call on radio programme
In his resignation letter, which was released on Thursday night after a day in which his departure seemed inevitable because he no longer had the support of the Democratic party (PD), Ignazio Marino said there was a problem with “political conditions” in the city, which were necessary to complete his mission of restoring Rome.In his resignation letter, which was released on Thursday night after a day in which his departure seemed inevitable because he no longer had the support of the Democratic party (PD), Ignazio Marino said there was a problem with “political conditions” in the city, which were necessary to complete his mission of restoring Rome.
“The conditions today appear to have thinned, if not disappeared. This is why I made my choice. I submit my resignation,” he wrote.“The conditions today appear to have thinned, if not disappeared. This is why I made my choice. I submit my resignation,” he wrote.
The expenses were just the tip of the iceberg for Marino. For months, questions have swirled around the mayor’s competence as the city appeared to be crumbling before everyone’s eyes – rubbish was left uncollected, the grass was not mowed in public parks, and a huge scandal involving corruption in public sector contracts – a scandal that was known as Mafia Capitale, which did not implicate Marino personally resulted in the arrests of dozens of city officials. The expenses were just the tip of the iceberg for Marino. For months, questions have swirled around the mayor’s competence as the city appeared to be crumbling before everyone’s eyes. Rubbish was left uncollected, the grass was not mowed in public parks, and the huge Mafia Capitale scandal involving corruption in public sector contracts – which did not implicate Marino personally – resulted in the arrests of dozens of city officials.
Another low point for the former liver transplant surgeon came last week, when Pope Francis took a swipe at the mayor for his decision to come to Philadelphia to see him during his trip to the US, even though he had not been invited by the Vatican.Another low point for the former liver transplant surgeon came last week, when Pope Francis took a swipe at the mayor for his decision to come to Philadelphia to see him during his trip to the US, even though he had not been invited by the Vatican.
“He professes to be a Catholic and he came spontaneously,” the pope told reporters on the plane back to Italy, in a not-so-subtle jab that did not go unnoticed by the Italian press.“He professes to be a Catholic and he came spontaneously,” the pope told reporters on the plane back to Italy, in a not-so-subtle jab that did not go unnoticed by the Italian press.
While Marino’s resignation will delight his critics – and there are many who believed that he was essentially not competent enough to manage the Eternal City – it also comes at a difficult time for Rome. The special year of jubilee, the Vatican event that will attract millions of tourists over the next 12 months, begins on 8 December. While Marino’s resignation will delight his critics – and there are many who believed that he was essentially not competent to manage the Eternal City – it also comes at a difficult time for Rome. The special year of jubilee, the Vatican event that will attract millions of tourists over the next 12 months, begins on 8 December.
A prank call by a radio station to a senior Vatican official last week revealed that the church did not have confidence in Marino’s ability to manage the influx of tourists.A prank call by a radio station to a senior Vatican official last week revealed that the church did not have confidence in Marino’s ability to manage the influx of tourists.
For months, it looked like Marino could survive a general feeling of dissatisfaction with his performance because it seemed unlikely that the PD would cut him lose. Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister and head of the PD, had distanced himself from Marino and even questioned his competence, but seemed loth to risk an election that could turn the management of the city over to a competing party, including the Five Star Movement.For months, it looked like Marino could survive a general feeling of dissatisfaction with his performance because it seemed unlikely that the PD would cut him lose. Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister and head of the PD, had distanced himself from Marino and even questioned his competence, but seemed loth to risk an election that could turn the management of the city over to a competing party, including the Five Star Movement.
But a recent scandal over the mayor’s expenses ultimately forced an end to his political career. On Wednesday night Marino pledged to pay back €20,000 in claimed expenses after it was alleged that he had used the funds to take his wife and friends out for dinners. “They were expenses that were made in the interests of Rome,” Marino wrote on his Facebook page. But a recent scandal over the mayor’s expenses ultimately forced an end to his political career. On Wednesday night Marino pledged to pay back €20,000 (£15,000) in claimed expenses after it was alleged that he had used the funds to take his wife and friends out for dinners. “They were expenses that were made in the interests of Rome,” Marino wrote on his Facebook page.
But his response was not good enough for even his political allies. Marino had released his expenses online to respond to critics who said he was traveling too much. But his response was not good enough for even his political allies. Marino had released his expenses online to respond to critics who said he was travelling too much.
In one case, he claimed to be dining with an official at the World Health Organisation, but that was revealed to be false by La Repubblica. The owner of the restaurant told the daily newspaper that he remembered seeing Marino and that he had been there eating with his wife.In one case, he claimed to be dining with an official at the World Health Organisation, but that was revealed to be false by La Repubblica. The owner of the restaurant told the daily newspaper that he remembered seeing Marino and that he had been there eating with his wife.