“I agree with Draghi when he says that Italy needs to make reforms, but how we will do them will be up to me: not the Troika, not the ECB, not the European Commission. I will carry out the reforms myself because Italy does not need others to explain what to do”. With these words Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, in an interview published today by the Financial Times, comments on the latest speech by Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, who last week asked the member countries of the Eurozone to cede their sovereignty in Brussels on the subject of structural reforms.
As for public finances, the Prime Minister reiterates his wish “not to exceed the ceiling of 3% in the deficit-GDP ratio. We hope to have better growth in the second half of the year and to close with a deficit of 2,9%”. The one relating to the deficit "is an old rule - continued Renzi - but respecting it is a question of credibility and reputation for Italy, even if others will exceed the limit".
On the currency front, the premier said he would be "happy if the euro weren't so strong against the dollar and if inflation was a little higher". Finally, Renzi also told the British newspaper that he intends to “bring the country out of the crisis: Italy has a great future, Italian finances are under control and we will continue to reduce taxes. We will do revolutionary things- I intend to hand this country over in order to those who will come after me. Time will tell whether this is arrogance or courage. For my part, I have no intention of backing down. I will go on".
