ROME -- Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi said she is "very calm" despite being placed under investigation in connection with the appointment of Renato Marra, brother of top aide of the mayor Raffaele Marra, as head of the capital's tourist office.

 Raggi was elected on an anti-corruption ticket as a member of the radical Five Star Movement headed by comic Beppe Grillo.

 Raggi is suspected of abuse of office and forgery regarding the appointment of Renato Marra as head of the Tourism Department in Rome and the mayor will be heard on Jan. 30. Based on what is heard from judicial sources, the investigation began shortly after Christmas 2016 following the appointment of Marra sent on Dec. 21.

 According to the prosecution, Raggi lied to the head of the Anti-Corruption department of the capital and did not prevent Raffaele Marra from participating in the appointment procedures of his brother. The mayor is then suspected of falsity because of what was said to head of the Anti-Corruption department, Mariarosa Turks, claiming that the appointment would be carried out independently.

 Raffaele Marra is also under investigation for abuse of office, again regarding his brother’s nomination.

 “Today I received an invitation to appear in front of prosecutors in Rome,” wrote Virginia Raggi over Facebook, “into the matter of the appointment of Renato Marra to Director of the Tourism Department, which, from what I know, has now been revoked. I informed Beppe Grillo and fulfilled my duty of information provided for by the Code of Conduct of the Five Star Movement.”

 “I am very calm,” Raggi continued, “I have complete confidence in the justice system, as always. We are ready to give any explanation.”

 Ex-Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, also acknowledged the mayor’s investigation over Facebook, claiming, “The mayor of Rome has received a notice. Our Constitution provides that all citizens are innocent until final judgement. And this is valid for everyone, regardless of their party. I therefore invite everyone from the PD (Democratic Party) to respect the presumption of innocence and not to chase controversy. We do not seek judicial shortcuts, we do not yield to hatred for the opponent, and we do not attack Virginia Raggi today.”

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