Lazio Region President Piero Marrazzo, who this weekend suspended himself from office in the wake of a sexual scandal, must instead resign so the region can hold early elections, centre-right MPs said on Monday. Marrazzo, of the opposition Democratic Party (PD), stepped aside on Saturday amid a probe into charges that four Carabinieri police had blackmailed him over a video showing him with a transsexual.

Admitting his ''personal weaknesses'', Marrazzo said he was handing over the running of the region to his deputy, Esterino Montino, and opening procedures that would lead to a formal resignation in December. The December date would rule out early elections because it would be in line with a 90-day timetable for regional elections scheduled in March. It would also give the PD more time to seek a replacement candidate for the post, a 'political favour' which the centre right is unwilling to grant. Centre-right MPs led by People of Freedom (PdL) party Senate Whip Maurizio Gasparri argued on Monday that the Lazio region has no legal provision allowing for suspension procedures and the handing of power to deputies. In a formal request to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni they asked him to look into the legitimacy of delegating powers to Montino.

Constitutionalists say that powers can be delegated if an elected official is hindered from carrying out his duties because of failing health. Marrazzo checked into Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Monday to seek treatment for acute stress, presumably to pre-empt the centre right's accusations.

Meanwhile, the opposition Italy of Values (IDV) Party called on Premier Silvio Berlusconi to explain why he rang Marrazzo last week to warn him that the video had been offered to Italian magazines, including one owned by his family-run Mondadori publishers. No footage or pictures have been run and the editor of the Mondadori weekly Chi, Alfonso Signorini, said he had been offered the video but refused it. He also denied having informed the premier but said he had told Berlusconi's daughter Marina, who runs the publishing company.

IDV leader Antonio Di Pietro urged Marrazzo to resign immediately, arguing that voters would misinterpret his motives and presume it was just another case of ''botched-up politicking''. Marazzo, 51, a former TV journalist for state broadcasting corporation RAI, won the Lazio regional elections in 2005. He had been planning to run for re-election.