Italy’s Meloni Pushes Through Parliament the Direct Election of the Prime Minister
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s rightist leader Giorgia Meloni is pushing through parliament a key constitutional reform to boost powers of the head of government by introducing the direct election of the prime minister, which opposition sources warn would concentrate too much power in the hands of one single person. Last week, right […]
Italy-Brussels Tensions Rise Over Delayed Tourism Deregulation, EU COVID Funds’ Revised Targets
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Tensions between Rome’s rightist government and Brussels are rising over the investments of revised European post-COVID funds and a delay in deregulating key tourist services, warned opposition forces. Democrat officials are concerned that were Italy to fail in “being credible and efficient” in investing the updated post-pandemic aid, and […]
Italy’s Lower Growth Forecasts Limit New Government’s Spending Leeway
Analysis: Choice of Italy’s Next Finance Minister Key for Incoming Government’s Credibility, ‘Fight’ Against ECB Rate Hikes Ahead
–ECB’s Panetta a possible candidate By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The choice of who will be Italy’s next economy and finance minister will be key in determining the winning center-right coalition’s credibility on world markets, and its power in campaigning against more European Central Bank rate hikes. The center-right alliance, which includes the far-right […]
Super Mario Fails; Italy’s Government On Verge of Collapse As Country Prepares for an Early Vote
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s premier Mario Draghi lost the support of his ruling coalition on Wednesday during a key vote of confidence at the Senate and is expected to resign, paving the way to an early vote and to months of paralysis. Even though Draghi did win the vote of confidence with […]
BOI’s Visco: Second Rate Hike in September ‘Appropriate’ if Long-Term Inflation Forecasts Do Not Improve
ROME (MaceNews) – Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco said on Friday that a second rate hike in September by the European Central Bank could be “appropriate” if long-term inflation forecasts do not improve. Talking at Italy’s annual banking lobby ABI conference, Visco argued, however, that monetary policy normalization, particularly including any additional rate hikes […]
Italy’s Top Lender Expands Issuance of US-Denominated Bonds; ‘Appealing’ 4% Fixed Rate
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MNI) – Italy’s top lender Banca Intesa San Paolo is expanding issuance of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds with an appealing 4% fixed rate to lure domestic investors into contributing to the U.S. government funding needs, and in giving them a ‘safe investment’ during stock exchange turmoil. The wide array of available bonds […]
Italy’s 5 Stars Movement Likely To Block Draghi’s Ukraine War Funding; Battle Ahead in Parliament – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s 5 Stars Movement, part of the ruling coalition, is preparing to pass a parliament resolution on Tuesday to stop the government from further funding Ukrainian fighters, with the risk of putting at stake Rome’s pro-NATO foreign policy stance, according to cabinet sources. The 5 Stars leader Giuseppe Conte, […]
<strong>BOI Cuts Italy ’22-’23 Growth on Ukraine Effects But Sees Recovery Signals As Investment Set To Rise</strong>
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The Bank of Italy on Friday cut country growth forecasts for 2022-2023 on fallout from the war in Ukraine and energy price hikes, but sees ‘robust’ signs of recovery as government aid to struggling families and European Union-wide pandemic investments start to bear fruit. GDP growth is now projected […]
Rome Seeks ‘Booster’ Recovery Funds To Tackle Impact of Ukraine Crisis – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy is seeking permanent structural aid at EU-level to tackle the economic impact of the Ukrainian war to shield firms and households, and which would benefit all member states, according to ruling coalition sources. “Just like we did following the COVID pandemic outbreak, the European Union needs a central […]