Sources said Thursday that Democratic Party (PD) commissioner in Rome Matteo Orfini and Left, Ecology and Freedom (SEL) Secretary Paolo Cento have agreed that if embattled Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino doesn't step down by 4pm today, they will call for a no-confidence motion against him in the city council.
Deputy Rome Mayor Marco Causi and transport executive councillor Stefano Esposito on Thursday resigne", sources said.
Marino is under pressure to quit over an expense future, the latest scandal to engulf the PD's mayor of the capital.
On Tuesday Rome prosecutors opened a probe into the mayor's expenses after the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FDI) party and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) filed petitions.
Marino subsequently announced that he would refund expenses - allegedly in the region of 20,000 euros - from his own pocket and also relinquish his City of Rome credit card, but this did little to assuage opponents including within his own party. Meanwhile a meeting of the Rome city executive was postponed from 11 am to midday on Thursday due to "problems", the councillor responsible for legality Alfonso Sabella said. The meeting was called to discuss preparations for the upcoming special Holy Jubilee on mercy amid concerns that the city will not be ready in time.
Esposito said Thursday that Marino's council was moribund. "The situation will inevitably lead us to the end of this administration," Esposito, who is also a Senator, told Sky TV.
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