Fazio, leader of the Italian NCB (or something like that) destroyed ABN Amro's try to buy some Italian bank whose name I can't remember now.Economist wrote: Well, it seems the Italian banking sector does need some competition.
But I think this, for once, has nothing to do with Berlusconi. Or does he have some friends in the banking sector he supports by blocking competition or keeping the regulators soft?
He is rather close with Berlusconi and it is very likely that Berlusconi knew about what was happening. However, when the scandal was getting too big, Berlusconi /did/ show Fazio the door. He just wasn't very happy to do it..
Anyway, although Berlusconi isn't directly involved in the active defense against foreign banks the Italian leaders have been doing, he has knowingly supported it.
And not letting competition in the Italian bank sector sure helps keeping the current situation up..