(ANSA) - Rome, February 13 - Former spending review
commissioner Carlo Cottarelli on Tueday denied ex-premier and
centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi's assertion he had said he
was willing to join a centre-right administration if it wins the
March 4 general election.
Speaking to ANSA, Cottarelli said "I thank the parties and
movements that have contacted me on this but the participation
in a government requires agreeing with the concrete programmes
on what to do."
He stressed that "such agreement can only come after the
elections.
"I should therefore like to clarify that I have not expressed
willingness to any side to participate in any form in a future
government," Cottarelli said.
He added: "I believe that all citizens should feel honoured
to serve their country contributing to the activity of
government.
"But at the moment I am continuing to carry out my role as
visiting professor at Bocconi University and director the
observatory on public accounts".
In this role I will continue to comment on the debate on
public finances in an impartial way".
Earlier Berlusconi said Cottarelli would head up a new
spending-review ministry if the centre right wins the March 4
general election.
"I heard from him yesterday and he said he was willing, he
will be one of those who will be in our government team,"
Berlusconi said.
Cottarelli, 64, who has a degree from the London School of
Economics, is a former International Monetary Fund economist who
is visiting professor at Milan's Bocconi University as well as
head of the observatory on public finances.
From 2013 to 2014 he served as spending review commissioner
for the centre-left governments of Enrico Letta and Matteo
Renzi.
He was said to be frustrated that many of his recommendations
were not acted upon.
Never said willing to join Berlusconi (4)
Agreement on programmes can only come after election