Italian city seeks to cancel Martinelli honor

THE ITALIAN Municipality of Lucca, Tuscany,  is studying ways  to withdraw a symbolic honor granted to Panama president, Ricardo Martinelli  in 2009.

That year the then mayor, Mauro Favilla, gave the keys of the   ancient walled city (pop 44,000) to the Panamanian president in a symbolic act without official  standing.

The administration of current mayor Luca Galli, confirmed to LaPrensa  that it will study how to proceed with the withdrawal of Ricardo Martinelli honors, having become aware of the international corruption prosecutions being pursued in the courts  of Rome and Naples directly involving the President of Panama.

The governing body of the new mayor has studied court records and will  analyze the protocol followed in these cases to proceed with the withdrawal of the honor granted the Panamanian President, says La Prensa.
Martinelli, who holds an Italian passport, has described the Rome and Naples international court cases involving Panama, in which his name surfaces, as a ‘’soap opera’’.