(ANSA) - Rome, January 21 - Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio said Monday that the controversial Turin-Lyon TAV high-speed rail-link project should be halted if a new cost-benefit analysis commissioned by the government is negative.
Di Maio's 5-Star Movement (M5S) has long been against the TAV.
Interior Minister, fellow Deputy Premier and League leader Matteo Salvini has said he is in favour of the project and has suggested holding a referendum if the new analysis gives it the thumbs down.
"The TAV has been put to an analysis that will be published and if the experts and the scientists tell us that we are throwing away money, only a madman would keep going," Di Maio told RTL 102.5 radio.
"But that doesn't mean we are against major projects. "Now that there is a (new) anti-corruption law, I don't think the State should fear investing in major projects due to corruption.
"We have lots of projects that need to be done, our infrastructure fund could be directed towards projects to increase the country's industrial development.
"I am not ideologically against this and the M5S must not be either".
Halt TAV if cost-benefit analysis negative - Di Maio
But fear of graft shouldn't stop major projects says M5S chief