(ANSA) - Rome, February 12 - The government on Wednesday named a new temporary head of the INPS national pensions agency after its former chief stepped down in a scandal over alleged regularities at a Rome hospital and the number of posts he held. Vittorio Conti, a 71-year-old economist, was a board member of the bourse watchdog Consob from 2006 to 2010 and its commissioner from 2010 until last year. He has worked in top banks Comit and Banca Intesa as well as the Bank of Italy. He will be the extraordinary commissioner of INPS until September 30.
President Antonio Mastrapasqua resigned on February 1 after Rome prosecutors announced that they were investigating the private Israelitic Hospital, where he is director general, for alleged billing irregularities and some 40 million euros in pension back payments owed to Inps for its employees. His resignation came as the government presented legislation to prevent public-sector managers holding multiple positions potentially involving conflicts of interest. Mastrapasqua reportedly held almost 10 directorships, down from 20 a few years ago, while his wife, also involved in the scandal, had even more. President Antonio Mastrapasqua on February 1. INPS manages social-security provisions for the majority of Italy's public-and private-sector employees and self-employed workers.