'A terrible MISTAKE!' Former eurocrat TEARS INTO Budget Commissioner over Italy comments
EU BUDGET Commissioner Gunther Oettinger sparked outrage from Italian politicians after he suggested markets would "teach Italians to vote for the right thing" – Istituto degli Affari Internazionali president Ferdinando Nelli Feroci tore into the eurocrat as he urged Italians to move on.
Mr Nelli Feroci, who served as commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship in 2014, slammed the German eurocrat for his "terrible mistake."
Mr Oettinger suggested the downturn in Italy's economy could be the result of a surge of support for the populist parties Lega and Five Star Movement (M5S).
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Mr Nelli Feroci claimed not to be surprised by the outburst and urged Italians to forget the incident.
He said: "It has been a terrible mistake by someone who has made similar mistakes in the past so we are not particularly surprised given the personality of Commissioner Oettinger.
YOUTUBE
"A terrible mistake because it conveys exactly the sort of message that we don’t deserve and we don’t need, and the idea that markets can control democratic processes, something which is completely unacceptable."
He added: "It has already been corrected by the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council.
"I think this is something that should quickly be forgotten and let’s go back to business, meaning a correct relation between national Governments and European institutions."
Mr Oettinger swiftly apologised for his comments but not before being targeted with calls for his resignation coming from representatives from Lega and M5S.
I think this is something that should quickly be forgotten and let’s go back to business
Italy was plunged into further political uncertainty after President Sergio Mattarella vetoed the nomination of anti-euro economist Paolo Savona as Finance Minister.
Lega and M5S leaders Matteo Salvini and Luigi di Maio met face to face on Thursday afternoon to discuss their joint cabinet proposals in a last bid to form a government before pushing the country to a new vote in the autumn.
Italian daily La Repubblica reported doors may now even be open for right-wing party Brothers of Italy to have a role in the new government negotiations.
Giorgia Meloni's party which formed the pre-election centre-right coalition together with Lega and Silvio Berlusconi's party Forza Italia could be assigned a position for the Ministry of Defence.