Senate committee approves magistrate as anti-corruption czar

Raffaele Cantone chosen by Renzi, endorsed by senators

(ANSA) - Rome, March 27 - The Senate's constitutional affairs committee unanimously endorsed magistrate Raffaele Cantone as president of a national anti-corruption agency on Thursday.

Cantone, who received 24 yes votes, had been selected by Premier Matteo Renzi. The 51-year-old Naples native worked until 2007 in that city's anti-mafia directorate and was involved in investigating major criminal organizations including the Casalesi clan of the Camorra mafia.

The anti-corruption agency is responsible for assessing transparency and integrity in public administration.