Piana takes over as caretaker Liguria governor

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 7 - Liguria Vice President Alessandro Piana on Tuesday took over as the region's caretaker chief after Governor Giovanni Toti was put under house arrest in a corruption probe.
    The region said in a statement that Piana has all of Toti's functions and full powers.
    "The administrative activities of the Liguria Region continue without interruption," Piana said. "We are close to our President Toti, certain that he has always acted in the exclusive interest of Liguria.
    "We hope that clarity will be brought to light as soon as possible and that the president will be able to prove that he has nothing to do with the disputed events".
    MP Matteo Rosso, the coordinator of Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party in Liguria, said the hypothesis of Toti resigning and new elections being held in the region could not be ruled out. (ANSA).