Anti-euro economist behind Italian crisis sworn in as EUROPEAN AFFAIRS minister

The decision of Italy‘s President Sergio Mattarella to veto the appointment of the anti-euro Prof Savona to the Finance Ministry plunged the country into uncertainty.

Following a new series of crunch talks between coalition partners Lega and Five Star Movement (M5S), Italy saw its new Government sworn in on June 1 – nearly three months after the March 4 election.

The political conditions to form a political government were found after Lega and M5S opted to move the controversial Prof Savona to the European Affairs Ministry after President Mattarella voiced his concerns about the academic’s outspoken anti-euro stance.

Swearing in in front of the President of the Republic, Prof Savona said: “I swear to be faithful to the Republic and to loyally observe its Constitution and its laws.

“I swear to carry out my duty in the exclusive interest of the nation.”

Prof Savona is set to feed into the growing concerns of the European Union due to years of attacks against key aspects of the bloc, with a particular focus on the euro.

The newly-appointed minister was part of a group of economists preparing a “plan B” that would have seen Italy swiftly leave the Euro.

The groundbreaking strategy included plans to return the country to its former currency, the Lira, after a weekend dash to print new coins.

In his latest book Prof Savona clearly voiced his aversion for the European currency, calling the Euro a “German trap”.

He wrote: “Germany didn’t change his role in Europe after the end of Nazism, despite having abandoned the idea of imposing it with military force.

“The euro is a creature that has been badly built by modifying the Constitution.

“Knocking our fists on the table won’t help.

“We need to prepare a Plan B to leave the euro if we were obliged to do so.

“The alternative is to end up like Greece.”