Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino on
Tuesday told opposition critics of his plan to join Pope Francis
on the United States leg of his Americas tour that his previous
missions abroad have attracted 13 million euros in much-needed
foreign investment to Rome.
Former rightwing Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno accused Marino
of "escaping from Rome once again".
Marino responded by distributing leaflets and figures
during a city council meeting, showing the amount of funding he
had managed to attract so far from previous trips.
"This is the money that the mayor has been able to bring
home over the past two years through a few trips and meetings
with sponsors: 13 millions euros," said Fabrizio Panecaldo,
coordinator of the council's ruling majority.
"I don't see why the mayor of Rome can't travel for work
and hopefully bring back money that can be spent on the
Jubilee," he said.
Marino also said on his Facebook page that he would be
meeting potential sponsors in New York who might be prepared to
invest in planned restoration work in the Italian capital.
He also said he was going to be welcomed as a guest and
therefore the trip would not be at Rome's expense.
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