Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Thursday presented a new website devoted to news and ongoing work at the Milan Expo 2015 world's fair as part of a transparency drive after a graft probe.
"OpenExpo, with online transparency data and information for all available, #italiariparte (#Italyrestarts)," Renzi said on Twitter. Renzi recently said on a visit to the site that he would not let those who want to see the event fail "get any satisfaction". The premier said the workers "are not just building a structure, not just pavilions, they are building and giving back pride to a country that needs it like bread".
He vowed: "We'll pull it off. We won't leave the future to the ill wishers and those who bet on failure. We are at work and everything will be ready (for Expo's opening) on May 1, 2015".
Beppe Grillo, the leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), called for the event to be scrapped after it was hit by a big corruption probe earlier this year.
But the premier is confident the event - which focuses on nutrition, fighting hunger and one of Italy's fortes, quality food, under the theme Feeding the Planet. Energy for life - will be "a big hit".
In May, prosecutors arrested eight managers and ex MPs involved in Milan Expo 2015 on charges of corruption linked to building tenders.
Those arrested included Angelo Paris, who was Expo's procurement and planning manager.
And in July Lombardy Governor Roberto Maroni, a former interior minister and the ex head of the separatist, anti-immigrant Northern League, was placed under investigation on suspicion of graft in relation to Expo.
Renzi's government has responded by promising to root out the corruption, while remaining committed to an event that it hopes will provide a major lift for the recession-hit Italian economy.
The executive gave its anti-corruption czar Raffaele Cantone special powers to oversee Expo, which is expected to attract more than 20 million visitors during its six-month run.
"Expo will be the key to getting Italy going again," the premier said.
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