Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio
Visco told the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the
banking crisis on Tuesday that ex-premier and Democratic Party
(PD) leader Matteo Renzi asked about the case of Banca Etruria
in 2014.
The bank was one of four troubled lenders that went to the
wall in 2015 and were reformed as good banks and subsequently
sold off.
"He certainly asked me," Visco told the commission in reply
to a question about Renzi and Banca Etruria.
"And I didn't answer... I said that I only speak to the
economy ministry about the banks in difficulty".
Visco told the commission that Cabinet Secretary Maria Elena
Boschi spoke to a central bank official about Banca Etruria when
she was reforms minister, but he added that she "did not make a
particular request for interventions".
Boschi had denied reports that she meddled over Banca
Etruria, which her father Pier Luigi was vice president of for a
period.
Visco said Boschi had two meetings with the central bank's
deputy director general, Fabio Panetta, during which she
expressed "sorrow and concern about the consequences of the
Banca Etruria crisis on the local area".
5-Star Movement (M5S) premier candidate Luigi Di Maio said
Visco's testimony showed Renzi applied pressure over Banca
Etruria.
"Visco reveals Renzi pressure on Banca Etruria," Di Maio said
via Twitter.
"A real democratic party would have already sent its leader
packing over a scandal of this size.
"How can the PD suffer this institutional violence in
silence? How long will you abuse our patience?".
Renzi, on the other hand, said Visco's testimony showed that
members of his government were not guilty of undue interference
in Italy's banking sector.
"I thank Governor Visco for the words of appreciation he
directed at my government in his hearing," Renzi, who was
premier from early 2014 until late 2016, said in a statement.
"I am pleased that it dispels any doubt about the behaviour
of the ministers.
"None of them have ever applied pressure, but just (took)
legitimate interest linked to their local areas: institutional
activity that is perfectly correct.
"So I thank Visco for putting the final word on weeks of
media speculation and verbal lynching of members of my
government".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
