"I’m Just Getting Off Here"... Controversy Grows in Italian Politics Over Minister Who Abruptly Stopped High-Speed Train

Temporary Stop Requested After Train Delayed Over Two Hours
Opposition Criticizes... "Using Train as Personal Vehicle"

An Italian minister has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he had a high-speed train stop at an unscheduled location for his convenience.

An Italian minister has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he had a high-speed train stopped at an unscheduled location for his own convenience. The photo is not directly related to the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

According to major foreign media reports on the 22nd (local time), Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy's Minister of Agriculture, recently used a high-speed train to attend the opening ceremony of a city park in Caivano, on the outskirts of southern Naples.

On that day, repeated train delays occurred, and when the minister arrived in Rome, he was two hours behind the scheduled time. Additionally, there were issues on the railway heading south, making it expected that the arrival time would be further delayed.

Francesco Lollobrigida, Italian Minister of Agriculture.
Photo by AP Yonhap News

In response, Minister Lollobrigida contacted Trenitalia, the state railway operator, to request a temporary stop at Ciampino near Rome. Although the train was not scheduled to stop at Ciampino, it made a brief unscheduled stop there at the minister's request. After disembarking, Minister Lollobrigida took an official vehicle prepared with his aides and headed to Caivano.

Trenitalia explained, "The stop at Ciampino station was made to ensure that government officials could keep inter-agency commitments."

Opposition's Sharp Criticism... "Unprecedented Abuse of Power"

Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture of Italy.
Photo by Yonhap News

Upon learning of the incident, the opposition strongly criticized it.

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called it an "unprecedented abuse of power" and urged Minister Lollobrigida to resign.

Andrea Casu, a member of the center-left Democratic Party, described it as an "unjustifiable arrogant act," pointing out that "Minister Lollobrigida treated the Italian train as a luxury private vehicle."

The Brothers of Italy party, to which Minister Lollobrigida and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni belong, responded to the opposition's criticism by saying, "It is shameful and unacceptable," adding that "the minister was only trying to keep an important appointment (the opening ceremony) without causing inconvenience to other passengers."

Meanwhile, Francesco Lollobrigida is the great-grandnephew of the legendary Italian actress, the late Gina Lollobrigida. His ruling party, Brothers of Italy, is known as the successor to the former National Fascist Party.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.