Politics · Italy · 6 hrs ago
Meloni and Intesa chief speak after dispute over Italy's budget
Giorgia Meloni and Carlo Messina spoke by phone to clear up misunderstandings over Italy's government budget plan.
Messina leads Intesa Sanpaolo, one of the country's largest banks, and has criticised a proposed contribution from banks to the budget.
He has also called the government's plan to spread Superbonus tax-credit repayments over ten years a drastic measure.
The call aimed to ease tensions after remarks made two days earlier, though no official account of their conversation was given.
Bank representatives want energy companies and other financial firms, including insurers, to share any contributions, and want a less disruptive approach to the tax-credit repayments.
The budget measures remain under discussion, and the government has not ruled out further talks.
Decisions may follow once lawmakers submit budget amendments, with the overall budget balance kept unchanged.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Intesa Sanpaolo chief executive Carlo Messina spoke by phone to address misunderstandings over the government’s budget plan.
No official or informal account of the conversation was released by government or bank sources.
Messina has criticized a planned contribution from banks and the government’s decision to extend Superbonus tax-credit repayments over 10 years.
Banking-sector sources said the call may have aimed to prevent a recent dispute from being used by others.
Further consideration of the budget measures is expected after amendments are presented in Parliament.
- Who
- Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, and Carlo Messina, chief executive of Intesa Sanpaolo.
- What
- They spoke by phone to address misunderstandings over the government’s budget plan.
- When
- The article was published on November 14, 2026; the exact date of the call was not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- To clear up misunderstandings and, according to banking-sector sources, prevent a recent dispute from being used by others.
The Italian government
Banking-sector interests
Bank contributions
The Italian government
The government has sought contributions from banks in its budget plan; Matteo Salvini supports increasing the requested contribution.
Banking-sector interests
Messina has criticized the requested contribution, and banks want energy companies and other financial services, including insurers, included.
Superbonus repayments
The Italian government
The government extended the time to claim credits from one year to 10 years.
Banking-sector interests
Banks want a less disruptive solution than spreading repayments over 10 years.
Messina made remarks criticizing aspects of the government’s budget measures.
An incident occurred that interlocutors feared could be used by others; the article does not specify what happened.
ANSA reported that Meloni and Messina had spoken by phone.
- Participants
- Giorgia Meloni and Carlo Messina
- Bank
- Intesa Sanpaolo
- Superbonus repayment period
- Extended from 1 year to 10 years
- Article publication
- November 14, 2026
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South American