Italian government appoints Mario Monti, Romano Prodi gives his agreement - Reaction from Emma Bonino

03/07/1999 (Agence Europe)

A communique from the presidency of the Italian Council of Ministers announced that the outgoing Commissioner Mario Monti had been appointed as a member, of Italian nationality, of the Prodi Commission (the second of course being the president himself). The press release specifies that Prime Minister Massimo d'Alema and Romano Prodi were in agreement on this appointment.

Emma Bonino, second Italian member of the current Commission and also a candidate, had been informed by Mr D'Alema before the press release. She responded by declaring that what happened is perfectly in the interests of the "Italian party system" and she sent her congratulations to the personalities that she considers as having taken part in her elimination: Romano Prodi, Massimo D'Alema, Silvio Berlusconi, Gianni Agnelli and the leaders of the three main Italian trade unions. In the evening, she held a press conference in Rome together with Marco Pannella, who denounced the "arrogant vetoes of those at the head of the regime" and affirmed that two things have not been pardoned to Emma Bonino: a) her action to the service of the European Institutions, Europe, freedom and Justice; b) the confidence and friendship of the Italians.