Politics · Italy · 4 hrs ago
Intesa chief criticises Italy’s bank measures as Meloni defends them
Intesa Sanpaolo chief Carlo Messina criticised Italy’s government over measures affecting banks in the 2027 budget.
The dispute centres partly on delaying certain Superbonus tax credits for ten years, meaning banks must wait longer to use them.
Messina called the approach a “South American” way of managing debt and said the government should not repeatedly target the same sectors for contributions.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the measures as a matter of fairness, while saying she would have preferred an agreement with banks.
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti defended the policy and cited the large public cost of the Superbonus.
Italy’s central bank has warned that frequent or unexpected tax changes can create uncertainty and affect investment decisions.
The government is reportedly working on changes to the Superbonus rule, but the dispute has also exposed wider strains in its relationship with Intesa.
Intesa Sanpaolo chief executive Carlo Messina criticised measures affecting banks in Italy’s budget, calling the treatment of Superbonus tax credits a “South American” approach to debt management.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the measures as a choice of justice and said she would have preferred to reach an agreement with banks.
Messina objected to spreading eligible tax credits over ten years and to repeatedly seeking contributions from the banking sector.
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti defended the policy, citing the state’s costs from the Superbonus.
The dispute follows a previous agreement between banks and the government on banks’ contributions.
- Who
- Intesa Sanpaolo chief executive Carlo Messina, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti.
- What
- Messina criticised budget measures affecting banks; Meloni and Giorgetti defended them.
- When
- November 12, 2026.
- Where
- Messina spoke to a parliamentary commission on the banking, financial and insurance system. Meloni responded from Dublin.
- Why
- Messina objected to delaying Superbonus tax credits and repeatedly seeking contributions from banks. The government defended the measures as fair and linked them to the costs of the Superbonus.
Carlo Messina
Giorgia Meloni and Giancarlo Giorgetti
Superbonus tax credits
Carlo Messina
Messina called spreading the credits over ten years a “South American” approach to debt management and objected to the delay in recovering them.
Giorgia Meloni and Giancarlo Giorgetti
Meloni said the measures were not “South American” and described them as a choice of justice; Giorgetti defended the policy by citing the state’s costs.
Bank contributions
Carlo Messina
Messina said the tax burden should be equitable and criticised targeting the same sectors repeatedly.
Giorgia Meloni and Giancarlo Giorgetti
Meloni said the government had sought to help banks and would have preferred to reach an agreement, as in previous years.
Messina said he promoted an agreement between banks and the government on banks’ contributions after a conversation with Meloni.
Messina criticised the budget measures during a hearing before a parliamentary commission on the banking, financial and insurance system.
Meloni and Giorgetti defended the measures in response to Messina’s criticism.
- Proposed credit repayment period
- 10 years
- Superbonus tax credits
- €23–24 billion
- State costs cited by Giorgetti
- About €140 billion in total from 2023 to 2026
- State costs cited by year
- €18 billion in 2023; €39 billion in 2024; €40 billion in 2025; €42 billion in 2026
- Messina’s role
- Chief executive of Intesa Sanpaolo
3 sources
What people are saying
The ecobonuses spread over ten years are South American formulas for managing debt towards one's creditors.
Help us help the country.
I consider it a choice of justice.
I accept the criticism of a South American measure but stand by the Habsburg policy of these four years.