(supersedes previous)Stefano
Graziano on Tuesday suspended himself as the Campania regional
chief of Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD) and from
the regional council, of which he is an elected member.
The politician is under investigation for alleged links to
the Camorra mafia.
"While expressing maximum confidence in the work of the
judiciary, it is with great pain that I communicate my
self-supension from the Democratic Party as I await the chance
to clarify my position beyond every possible doubt," Graziano
said in a statement.
He denied any mafia involvement and asked to be
interrogated by an investigating magistrate as soon as possible.
Carabinieri police earlier searched Graziano's homes and
office in Rome and in the town of Teverola, near Caserta as part
of a probe that led to nine arrests on Tuesday, including that
of restaurateur and businessman Alessandro Zagaria.
Investigators are scrutinizing Zagaria's alleged backing of
Graziano's electoral campaign.
The deputy secretary of the PD said the party wants the
case solved as soon as possible.
"We hope light will be shed as soon as possible (and) the
position of whoever is involved be made clear," said Lorenzo
Guerini. "Meanwhile, we have total and unconditional trust in
the judiciary's work".
" "Ho sempre agito, nel corso della mia carriera politica -
aggiunge Graziano - nel pieno rispetto dei principi di
trasparenza e legalità, per me imprescindibili regole di vita.
Pertanto - rende noto Graziano - ho conferito mandato al mio
legale di attivarsi presso la Procura napoletana perché al più
presto venga fissato un interrogatorio nel corso del quale potrò
fornire ogni spiegazione sui fatti che l'Autorità giudiziaria
riterrà di dover approfondire, confermando la mia totale
estraneità a qualsiasi vicenda illecita".
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