ROME (Sputnik) — Italy's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Maurizio Lupi has announced he will step down on Friday over a growing corruption scandal in his department.
"This does not mean I'm quitting politics, because you don't need to be a minister to do politics. I believe this step of mine will serve to strengthen the action of the government," he said in a pre-recorded interview with the national broadcaster Rai.
Although Lupi himself is not under investigation, he said the decision was taken to save the government's reputation. He will resign officially after a speech in the parliament on Friday.
Local media claim that some of the pressure came from Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. According to reports, the Renzi government has been plagued with corruption probes, with more than 50 government officials already placed under investigation.
