The government has sold 107 of its
so-called 'blue cars', or chauffered state cars, on eBay for
almost 900,000 euros, the premier's office said on its website
Friday.
The government put a total of 151 cars on the block since
opening its eBay account.
The money will go to a deficit-reduction fund.
The latest auction saw 25 defense ministry blue cars go for
some 155,000 euros in an auction that opened February 26 and
ended March 19.
The winning bids came from throughout Italy as well as
Australia and Germany.
Premier Matteo Renzi last year announced the plan to
cut the fleet of siren-blaring 'blue cars' which regularly irk
motorists and pedestrians around Italy.
The sleek cars have become an embodiment of what voters see
as the undeserved privileges of government officials and
public-sector managers.
Successive governments have vowed to shrink the fleets, but
the first real drive began in late 2012 amid widespread voter
disenchantment.
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