Italy junior minister quits in wake of hotel bill scandal

Jan 10, 2012, 13:34 GMT

Rome - A junior minister in the Italian government resigned on Tuesday following reports that several of his hotel bills were in the past paid for by a businessman who is under investigation for corruption.

Carlo Malinconico, cabinet undersecretary for the publishing sector, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Mario Monti, the government said in a statement.

Malinconico had informed Monti his decision to quit 'in relation to the facts and circumstances reported in the media,' the statement said.

'The Undersecretary had resigned from his post to better be able to defend his image and his honour ... and to safeguard the credibility and efficacy of the government,' the statement added.

Monti thanked Malinconico for his 'sense of responsibility in placing the public interest before any other consideration,' the statement said.

Calls for Malinconico to step down followed revelations in the media that in 2008 he had stayed at Il Pelicano, a five-star hotel in Porto Ercole a resort town on Italy's eastern Monte Argentario peninsula.

Malinconico's bill, amounting to 9,800 euros (12,470 dollars) was reportedly paid for by businessman, Francesco Piscicelli who is being investigated in connection with several contracts relating to the site for the 2009 Group of Eight industrialized nations summit held in the central Italian town of Aquila.

Piscicelli has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the corruption probe.

Monti, who took office in November following the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi amid turmoil in the financial markets, heads a technocratic government tasked with saving heavily indebted Italy from bankruptcy.