French nationalism e the absence of the Italian Government they blew everything up. This is the thought of Marco Bentivogli, general secretary of Fim Cisl, who as union leader in the metalworkers category welcomed with regret the failed marriage between FCA and Renault: “The confrontation between FCA and Renault for a possible merger – said Bentivogli – which would have given rise to the third largest automotive group in the world, had already started in an unbalanced way. The culprit as unjustified and total absence of the Italian government has in fact misaligned the comparison between the two groups ".
On the one hand, claims the trade unionist, Renault had on its side, in addition to the 15% state participation, the government engaged in the front line with Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. On the other hand, for Italy, only the private shareholder was sitting at the table of a very delicate negotiation “without the slightest interest, or declarations of interest in the game, from the Minister of Economic Development and even less from Prime Minister Conte. This – continues the number one of Fim Cisl in a note – it created the conditions for a fully extended confrontation on the French side. A story that seems incredible, it is crazy that Palazzo Chigi has not in the least toyed with the idea of participating in the confrontation for such an important industrial operation on an industrial and economic level, both nationally and globally due to the impacts it would have had on the whole sector and on the perspective”.
“Like Fim Cisl – Bentivogli harangued – in recent days we have repeatedly requested an intervention by the Italian government, but without any response. Paris has begun to overdo it, dictating the line on FCA's stock devaluation, jobs, production volumes and management, complete with a President and CEO. The other night we were at the pre-arrangement while the Italian government didn't even notice. French nationalism on the one hand and the absence of the Italian government blew everything up, prompting FCA shareholders to withdraw the offer".
A missed opportunity, as the Renault board of directors was keen to underline in a note, but all is not lost: according to many, the marriage between the two automotive groups can still be saved. “I don't think it's all over – agrees Bentivogli – even if it's not easy to recover. This operation served our industry and the French one, with which we have many agreements in place, because however you want to see it, there will be consolidation in this sector in recent years. If it's not FCA, it will be someone else for Renault, but it will be fundamental for the stability and competitiveness of the sector in our country".
“The point – concludes the secretary of the metalworkers of the CISL – is that the government must also play a role in any other matches, as it happens in the rest of the world. In Italy, on the other hand, there is a general lack of interest in work and industry at the political level today, so we risk remaining midges among many bigger than us. I don't think it's all over. The halting of the agreement and the reaction of the Stock Exchange will perhaps help but it will be necessary for Paris to put aside its nationalism, only then can negotiations resume. But not without the presence of an Italian political interlocutor".
