Anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said Monday that ex-premier
and Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi "massacred savers
and now wants to be their champion.
"He and (Cabinet Secretary Maria Elena) Boschi are the
persecutors of Italian current-account holders, not the
saviours".
Di Maio said "when they do their media show on (Governor
Ignazio Visco) and the Bank of Italy to show they want to
safeguard savers, they should remember that when they were in
power not only did they favour the banks but in 20 minutes they
passed a decree to save Boschi's bank and leave thousands of
savers destitute".
Banca Etruria, where Boschi's father Pier Luigi was vice
president, was one of four regional lenders rescued in a
bail-out that left many savers holding worthless bonds.
One Banca Etruria former bondholder, Luigino d'Angelo, killed
himself.
The government subsequently had to pass measures to
compensate the savers who had been tricked into buying risky
junior bonds.
The other banks were Banca Marche, Cassa di Risparmo della
Provincia di Chieti (CariChieti) and Cassa di Risparmio della
Provincia di Ferrara (CariFe).
They were saved, turned into good banks and taken over by
bigger lenders.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA