The city council of Seregno
near Milan quit Thursday amid a probe into Calabrian 'Ndrangheta
mafia infiltration in which centre-right Forza Italia (FI) Mayor
Edoardo Mazza was arrested earlier this week.
The move came after the resignations of the ruling rightwing
populist Northern League and ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's FI
councillors as well as those from the centre-left minority.
Tuesday's sweep landed a big blow on the 'Ndrangheta
operations in the wealthy northern region of Lombardy Tuesday,
with Mazza among 24 arrested and the former deputy governor of
the region among those probed.
The police op was linked to a probe into alleged infiltration
of Lombardy's political and business world by 'Ndrangheta,
Italy's richest, most powerful and dangerous mafia.
Some 21 suspects were taken to jail and three were put under
house arrest, including Mazza.
Mazza, who had gained headlines for campaigning against
petty crime and beggars, is accused of facilitating the business
of an entrepreneur linked to the mafia who, in turn, allegedly
got him votes for his election as mayor.
Police said they had a wiretap in which Mazza promises the
construction entrepreneur, Antonio Lugara', that he would
intervene to get him the contract to build a shopping centre at
Seregno.
"Every promise is a debt, isn't it," Mazza allegedly told
Lugara'.
Lugara' was among those also arrested in the investigation,
sources said.
Former Lombardy deputy governor Mario Mantovani is under
investigation for corruption in relation to the probe, sources
said.
Mantovani, now a Forza Italia regional councillor, is not
probed for mafia crimes.
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