"The definition and temporal coordination of the programs for the disposal of shareholdings in companies controlled by the State and by other public entities and companies implemented by the Ministry of the Economy is the responsibility of a Committee of Ministers". This is foreseen by an amendment to the Rome-saving decree signed by Linda Lanzillotta (SC) and Massimo Mucchetti (PD), approved yesterday by the Senate Budget Committee. The committee, according to the amendment, will be chaired by the prime minister and made up of the ministers of the economy, economic development and any other ministers competent for the matter. The measure will have to be confirmed by the Chamber.
“The direction and political responsibility for the privatization plan the Government is working on moves from the Ministry of the Treasury to Palazzo Chigi – underlined Lanzillotta -. It is important to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, the divestitures must maximize revenues but take due account of the industrial aspects and those of market opening. Privatizations cannot have a purely financial and technocratic approach, as has been done in the past, but must be part of a broader plan to enhance Italian industry and open up to competition”.
Benedetto Della Vedova, political spokesman for the Civic Choice, underlines in a note that “a rearguard ideological battle is being fought over the Acea. The Lanzillotta amendment, which in the context of an operation of first stabilization and then recovery of the serious debt situation of the Capital, also with huge state resources, commits to a further sale of non-controlling shares in the municipal company, is impeccable and the his dutiful approval for a reforming majority. At a time when the Government is launching a disposal plan on a national level to attack the public debt through assets, it is not clear how they should instead be considered untouchable shares of municipal companies which, for example for gas and electricity, operate in completely liberalized sectors. On the contrary, a greater opening to private capital could help alleviate the endemic scourge of clientelism in the companies of the Municipality".
