Messina: 'Ecobonuses extended to ten years are a South American formula'. Meloni: 'Ours is a choice of justice'

"Ecobonuses extended to ten years are South American formulas for managing debt towards one's creditors." The CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo, Carlo Messina, said this during a hearing at the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the banking, financial and insurance system.

Meloni's reply: "I'm sorry that they are considered South American measures, I think that they are not and I think that clearly I would have been happier to have been able to reach the same result with an agreement, as has happened in past years". "We try to give each other a hand - said the Prime Minister -, and it is a bit the choice that the government has made. I consider it a choice of justice", she underlined.

"It's an incredible thing - added Messina - what's in the finance law: ten years. A loan expires next year, you bring it to me for ten years and without interest. This is due to the ECB rules, and we'll get there, we risk triggering classification problems. But is it possible that this rule hasn't been discussed before to find different liquidity solutions?". "As in all countries in the world, I believe that when a financial law is prepared there is an interaction with people who have expertise."

"We have proposed - said Messina - interventions on public properties and to create Italian Pnrrs financed by Intesa. We are available to reduce public debt and increase growth. The problems must be addressed in the medium and long term and not for three months because there are elections in six months. What is proposed is not consistent with the Constitution".

"We have a very strong ability to be present in the area. An absolute strong point of our bank is our social attitude" added Messina. "Intesa Sanpaolo - he added - is the guarantee for those who queue at Caritas to ensure that meals are guaranteed. We are the largest social foundation. We allocate hundreds of millions to the social sector. Instead of describing ourselves as those to go against to get more votes, we must instead remember that we are the biggest supporters of the poor. Intesa Sanpaolo is an investment by pensioners. The dividends we give to the foundations are used for social purposes. We have the highest tax rate in Europe".

"Help us help the country. The value is to collaborate together, but what is done must be respected. Even the shareholders, when I brought the agreement last year, there were investors who wanted to take responsible actions. But I put my face to it by explaining that it was right". "Today - he added - investors will not understand. Maintaining agreements with international investors is an essential element. For mistakes made in a phase like this, the relationship not only with banks but also with institutional investors can be at stake. We want to continue to support the public budget and economic growth but we demand respect".