Italy’s Craxi Quits as Socialist Party Leader
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ROME — Socialist Party leader Bettino Craxi stepped down as expected on Thursday and said he would spend his time defending himself against corruption allegations.
“My mandate as (party) secretary now ends and is today formally at your disposition,” said Craxi, calling it quits after 16 years and seven months at the party’s helm.
The former premier called the allegations linking him to Italy’s widening kickback and extortion scandal an “unjust aggression” by judges and political enemies.
Craxi, who has denied any wrongdoing, has received six official notices that he is under investigation for alleged involvement in the scandal.
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