Italy's parliament authorises MP's arrest

Rome, May 16 (IANS) Italy's parliament Thursday authorised the arrest of a parliamentarian belonging to the ruling centre-left Democratic Party (PD).

Sicilian Francantonio Genovese was charged in March by prosecutors in Messina with criminal association, money laundering, embezzlement and fraud, Xinhua reported.

The lawmarker allegedly was profiting from contracts for the public financing of training programmes.

Three members of his staff and a fourth one involved in the probe have already been put under house arrest. As a member of the Lower House, however, it was up to Genovese's fellow MPs to assess the request and decide whether to consent to his arrest.

The Lower House voted with an ample majority, 371 votes in favour and 39 votes against, to give the green light to prosecutors, even though not without polemics.

Genovese is member of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's PD party, which is also the main political force of the current coalition government.