Renzi considers Rome’s swamp WHAT links a one-eyed bank robber and Europe’s biggest asylum reception center to Sisters Marcella and Consolata of the Servants of the Congregation of Divine Providence? The answer: all are caught up in colourful recent scandals that menace the credibility and reputation of Matteo Renzi’s reforming government.
The latest involves the allegedly fraudulent bankruptcy of a chain of nursing homes. The two nuns were among those arrested. Police in Trani wanted to nab a senator, Antonio Azzollini, but could not because of his parliamentary immunity. Prosecutors have applied for it to be lifted. Mr Azzollini denies any wrongdoing.
He belongs to the New Centre Right (NCD), a junior partner in Mr Renzi’s coalition. The NCD, made up of erstwhile followers of Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister, has become an embarrassment to the government. Mr Renzi needs its support in parliament, yet polls show it has the support of less than 3% of voters. And its propensity for attracting unwelcome publicity seems limitless.
Already, two NCD ministers have left the cabinet under a…
