Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani and Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo
Urso both said Saturday that the government may speed up with
plans to privatize Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS).
The bank, the world's oldest lender still in business, has been
controlled by the Italian economy ministry since a State bailout
in 2017.
When asked by Bloomberg TV about whether the decision to sell
the State's stake could be accelerated at the Forum Ambrosetti
in Cernobbio, Tajani said "probably yes".
When asked when a decision would be made, he replied "soon".
Urso said later on Saturday that "I think it is right to take
this road" adding that it would be up to Economy Minister
Giancarlo Giorgetti to decide on the time frame and method used.
But League MP Alberto Bagnai, the head of his party's economy
department, said the sale of the MPS stake was "not on the
agenda".
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