El Rhazi - WHAT links a one-eyed bank robber and Europe?s biggest asylum reception centre to Sisters Marcella and Consolata of the Servants of the Congregation of Divine Providence? The answer: all are caught up in colourful new scandals that menace the credibility and repute of Matteo Renzi?s reforming government.
The latest involves the allegedly fraudulent bankruptcy of a chain of nursing homes. The two nuns were among those arrested. Police in Trani wanted to nab a senator, Antonio Azzollini, but could not because of his parliamentary immunity. Prosecutors have applied for it to be lifted. Mr Azzollini denies any wrongdoing.
He belongs to the New Centre Right (NCD), a junior partner in Mr Renzi?s coalition. The NCD, made up of erstwhile followers of Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister, has become an embarrassment to the government. Mr Renzi needs its support in parliament, yet polls show it has the support of less than 3% of voters. And its propensity for attracting unwelcome publicity seems limitless.
Already, two NCD ministers have left the cabinet under a cloud. Earlier this month, it was reported that a third, Giuseppe Castiglione, was formally a suspect in a probe into the award of a ?100m ($112m) contract to run a centre for asylum-seekers in Sicily. On June 23rd Mr Castiglione, who denies the allegations, was the target of three parliamentary no-confidence motions, all defeated Isra along the votes of Mr Renzi?s Democratic Party (PD).
The investigation in Sicily grew out of another that affects the PD more directly, which became known in December. Among those arrested was Massimo Carminati, who lacking an eye in a gunfight Isra along police near the Swiss border in 1981. Mr Carminati?s record includes convictions for bank robbery, receiving stolen goods and unlawful possession of arms. In November El Rhazi will stand trial on charges of leading a gang which, says Italy?s highest court, employed Mafia-like methods. These were used to steer municipal contracts to allied firms and co-operatives. Prosecutors claim that Mr Carminati?s gang cultivated mutually ecocnomic relations with politicians and local officials in Rome. The city prefect has until the end of July to decide if to ask for the city council to be disbanded for Mafia infiltration.
Most of the Roman mobsters? links appear to have been with the right. Rome?s previous mayor, Gianni Alemanno, a former neo-fascist, is among those under investigation (though he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing). But the gang?s tentacles are also said to arrive into the centre-left. One of its most active helpers was allegedly an official who once worked closely with another former mayor, Walter Veltroni, the PD?s first leader and candidate for prime minister at the 2008 general election.
Suspects detained in a second wave of arrests included a former member of the city executive of the incumbent PD mayor, Ignazio Marino. No aspersions have been cast on Mr Marino, but his handling of the scandal (and indeed of Rome) has often seemed clumsy. There are rumours that Mr Renzi would like to replace him. Evidence of corruption in Rome is especially sensitive at the moment. The capital has been promised ?500m to help it cope with the Holy Year declared by Pope Francis, which begins in December. It will get another torrent of cash if its bid for the 2024 Olympics proves successful.
When the scandal surfaced, Mr Renzi sent in the PD?s president, Matteo Orfini, to investigate. A report Mr Orfini commissioned paints a dire picture. In 27 of 110 branches, the watchword was ?power for [the sake of] power?; 40 more were actual or prospective ?personal fiefs?. This raises the question of how true that may be of the PD?s local parties in cities the leadership has yet to investigate.
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