Tajani: 'No raids on banks, no need for bribes'

Banks "are businesses. I don't think we need to pinch them, but we need to talk to them, because a country like ours cannot do without a strong banking system." This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and FI leader Antonio Tajani at a press conference at the Rimini Meeting, questioned about the comments of Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti. "Banks," he added, "must pay taxes like everyone else, but I oppose the principle of extra profits." "Be careful: hunting down banks means hunting down the Italian industrial and entrepreneurial system," therefore, "it's right that banks pay taxes and contribute, but without raids or bizarre operations. I don't think pinching is necessary. Instead, we need serious rules and discussion."

"I believe in the free market, so I don't think the government should intervene in this or that transaction. The important thing is that market rules are respected." This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and FI leader Antonio Tajani at a press conference at the Rimini Meeting, responding to a question about the government's hopes for MPS's ongoing bid for Mediobanca.

On the international economic front, "with the dollar continuing to fall, and if it reaches 1.25, it will be difficult for our companies to export, especially to the United States, we must intervene: we need shock action from the European Central Bank, we need new quantitative easing." Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made this statement at a press briefing at the Rimini Meeting. What would be needed, he argued, "is for the European Central Bank to buy government bonds to put more money into circulation and, in effect, lower and reduce the dollar's strength. This is something that must be done because it worries me more than tariffs do. I think," he concluded, "the business community is also fully aware of all this."