The Meloni government is trying to close the text of the 2026 budget law, but to do so the banking issue must be resolved. The Prime Minister’s intervention, however, is indirect, because it takes place through a dialogue reported in the new book by Bruno Vespa, End of the worldin which we find Giorgia Meloni explaining her direction directly to the CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo, Carlo Messina.
Meloni’s words bounce around the media and find a response from politicians. Among these voices, that of Matteo Salvini, who says he is satisfied and supports the prime minister, underlining that there is no fury towards the banks, but that resources are needed to support the weakest. In the majority, after the tension, comes what seems to be the end of the game. Antonio Tajani, in fact, declared that the agreement on the banks is closed and that it will no longer change. There is a risk, however, that is not discussed in the majority itself, which has blocked the measure on the banks, and that is: who says that the credit institutions will not take action on their customers?
Giorgia Meloni on banks: the dialogue with Messina
Giorgia Meloni continues to withdraw from a direct and frank confrontation with journalists. She doesn’t answer questions, but lets her statements pass through other channels, be they messages and videos on social media or transcripts of a dialogue between her and the banker Carlo Messina, CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo.
This is what happened recently with Bruno Vespa’s new book, End of the world. In this we read the exchange between the prime minister and the banker.
The Prime Minister talks about the role of the banking system and does so from the perspective that banks must support government policies, because they have benefited from public measures and now is the time to give something in return.
It reads:
If the spread grows, if Italy’s rating rises, if the banks were able to take advantage of the 200 billion made available by the Conte government to renegotiate loans they had already disbursed with the state guarantee, or of the Superbonus credits, again thanks to Giuseppe Conte, it is right that those same banks lend us a hand in continuing with such a profitable policy.
Only 5 billion out of 44 in profits in 2025
In her dialogue with Messina, Giorgia Meloni adds that out of 44 billion in profits in 2025 (which continues a trend of extra earnings), the government asks to make around 5 billion available to help the weakest sections of society. “I believe that we can be satisfied and that, ultimately, they can be satisfied too,” he comments.
He then wanted to specify that it is not a question of introducing a new tax on profits, but of asking for a contribution proportionate to the advantages obtained by the banks in recent years. In fact, he declares: “We don’t want to tax the wealth produced by companies, because we would send the wrong signal.”
And he adds:
We want a contribution on the income accumulated due to market conditions that government policy has strongly contributed to creating. I explained that to keep the accounts in order, resources are needed and we asked for them from those who have had great benefits thanks to this policy.
Salvini asks for money for the house plan
There was no shortage of discussions or barbs between prominent elements of the government majority. Two protagonists of these tense exchanges were the deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani. Among the many issues to be resolved, especially between the two of them, there was that of the banking institutions.
Thus, while Matteo Salvini says he is completely satisfied with Giorgia Meloni’s point of view and invites the banking system to participate in the 2026 maneuver, Antonio Tajani remains rather cold, but does not say he is against it.
Salvini adds that there is no fury towards the banks, but that, having earned 112 billion euros in profits, part of these thanks to state guarantees, it is time to give something back. According to the Minister of Infrastructure, part of these funds should reach the housing plan. For the first pilot projects, he continues in his explanation, he foresees a cost of 660 million euros which could be supported by the contribution of the banks. “The problem is that this money is from 2027 onwards, but I also need it in 2026 for the planning. I would like to have a pilot project for each of the 20 regions,” he explained.
The doubts of the opposition
However, there are some critical aspects that have not yet been clarified. Opposition voices say this, such as Antonio Misiani, economic manager of the Democratic Party. This in fact criticizes the absence of guarantees for citizens, because the request for funds from banking institutions does not include a protection clause for consumers and businesses. According to Misiani, the risk is “that the banks pass the cost on to account holders. There is not a line about this in the budget law”.
Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement, instead criticizes the government because it does not have enough courage to impose real taxation. Angelo Bonelli, of the Alleanza Verdi-Sinistra, also says he is critical and doubtful. He talks about a mockery, because it is “a tax advance that the banks will recover”. According to him, in fact, families are suffocating today, but institutions are not really touched and Meloni is like the sheriff of Nottingham.
Even though he is not part of the opposition, Antonio Tajani’s reaction suggests that he does not agree with what has been decided. Giorgetti has declared several times in recent weeks that the budget law does one thing every year: it fails to get everyone to agree. And the leader of Forza Italia seems to be of this opinion. The agreement with the banks, however, is now closed, and his comment is precisely this: “The agreement with the banks is closed and cannot be changed.” These are not words of satisfaction: they sound more like an attempt to avoid an increase in tension among the majority.
