Renzi says Italian banks more solid than German (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, December 18 - Premier Matteo Renzi said Friday that he was confident that Italy's banking system was more solid than Germany's despite the recent rescue of four small lenders. "The solidity of the Italian banking system is better than that of Germany," Renzi told reporters at the close of a summit of EU leaders.
    "I represent a country that follows the rules even when I didn't choose them - let us avoid easy alibis," he said.
    "When (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel spent 247 billion euros to save her banks she did so within the rules...It would be too extravagant to hold the chancellor responsible for that.
    I wasn't there, and Italy did not do so," Renzi concluded.