Farm Minister Francesco Lollobrigida
has been slammed for allegedly using a high-speed train for his
personal needs.
Il Fatto Quotidiano saily published the story on its front page
Wednesday saying that the minister, who was travelling from Rome
to crime-ridden Naples backwater Caivano, had got on the
Turin-Salerno Frecciarossa at Termini but then made it make a
special stop at Ciampino because it was 111 minutes late, in
order to continue on his way by car.
Former premier and centrist Italia Viva (IV) party leader Matteo
Renzi and the leftwing populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) were among
those calling for Lollobrigida to quit over the alleged personal
use of public transport, while many critics compared his
behaviour to the Marchese del Grillo, an Alberto Sordi comic
character known for his high-handed dismissal of common mortals.
M5S leader and former premier Giuseppe Conte said Lollobrigida's
conduct "sends a devastating signal" while the M5S deputy House
whip, Agostino Santillo, said "someone who stops a train as if
it was his own property "must resign".
Green leader Angelo Bonelli said it must be established if
Lollobrigida committed abuse of office while Più Europa (More
Europe) leader Riccardo Magi said "if it's true that
Lollobrigida got a train to stop for his own convenience then he
must explain himself in parliament".
The minister's rightwing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party said that
the flak directed at him was "disgraceful" and "unacceptable"
and said he had only made sure he could get to an important
event like the opening of a park in Caivano, which the
government is trying to clean up, "without in any way provoking
any damage to the other passengers".
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