ROME - Embattled Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino insists he “will be here until 2023,” despite Prime Minister Matteo Renzi telling him “if you are up to governing, govern, if you aren’t, go home."

  Renzi in an interview Wednesday with La Stampa, acknowledged that whilst Marino was a “good” and “honest” man, he found himself questioning whether or not he was capable for the mayoral role.

  Whilst praising Marino’s acts in relation to the previously mafia-infiltrated Ostia administration, Renzi commented that he is more interested in whether “the administration cleans the streets and sorts out the potholes in the roads”. Renzi spoke of his previous experience as the Mayor of Florence, and suggested that such a role is dear to his heart. 

  He later stated that either the mayor or the administration should look at their reflection in the mirror and decide what to do. He mentioned that the world’s eyes will be on Rome in anticipation of the jubilee and underlined the importance of a capable administration.

  He added that it will be up to the Roman Democratic Party next year to decide on the fate of Marino’s role as mayor. Mayoral elections are to be held in numerous big cities across Italy, and Renzi insinuated that there might also be elections in Rome, if the quality of the administration does not improve. Renzi is reportedly already choosing Marino’s successor, the most likely candidates either being Gentiloni, the current Minister for Foreign Affairs, or Giachetti, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies.

  Whilst Renzi also praised Matteo Orfini on his marvellous job, the President of the Democratic Party defended Marino by saying that “the Democratic Party has not ditched Marino, he is the Mayor which won the elections and has a duty to govern this city”.

  He also said that whatever the administration manages to achieve would be partially thanks to Marino’s administration. With Renzi previously criticising Marino’s “relaxed nature”, Orfini stated that “we will only be relaxed here in Rome, when all the city’s problems are resolved, (Renzi’s) blow is a stimulus to always do more and do better, and whatever we achieve will also thanks to (Marino’s) governance”.

  The administration itself seems embarrassed by Renzi’s words, and some allegedly worrying about forced resignations, however Marino insisted that he “will be here until 2023”.

  Stefano Fassina, a member of the Democratic Party, denounced Renzi’s words as “indecent”.

  Founder of the Five Star Movement Beppe Grillo tweeted on the matter, calling for “elections for Rome as soon as possible! Before the city becomes swamped by rats, rubbish and immigrants”. He later changed the last part of tweet, after being criticised for his political incorrectness, to “before Rome becomes swamped by rats, rubbish and by immigration camps run by the Mafia”.