Economics: While the focus is still on Deutsche Bank, don't forget about Italy
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Over the past two weeks the primary focus by the world's financial caretakers has been on Deutsche Bank, and its potential to collapse several other institutions through the counter-party risk of its $40-70 trillion derivatives book. But as the markets have appeared since last Friday to shrug off the German bank's imminent insolvency problems, little has been mentioned about the other economy in Europe that has an even greater risk of bringing about the next 'Lehman Moment'.
Over
the next month, Italy is expected to vote on a referendum which if
passed, would allow Matteo Renzi to institute new reforms that have kept
the Italian economy both in stagnation, and austerity since the 2008
financial crisis. But with several of their major banks teetering on
collapse in equal or greater measure to that of Deutsche Bank, the
potential of an Italian banking implosion not only threatens the Western
banking system, but also the future of the European Union itself.
“An Italian exit from the single currency would trigger the total collapse of the eurozone within a very short period. It would probably lead to the most violent economic shock in history, dwarfing the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008 and the 1929 Wall Street crash.
Should
the Italian people vote in favor of Renzi's referendum to change the
Constitution it would signal to the EU that Italy is in complete
lockstep with Brussels and the Troika, and would fulfill any necessary
steps to receive bailout or bail-in funds to save their banks. However,
if the referendum vote fails, and at this time it appears likely that
this will be the outcome, it will be a clear signal that the Italian
people are more than ready to leave the EU, and become the second, and
probably most crucial state, to breakaway from the continental
coalition.
Earlier today (Oct. 7) an announcement was made by a former Italian minister that a private bailout of Monte de Paschi di Siena was in the works. But late this afternoon Zerohedge reported that this plan had broken down, leaving Renzi and the Italian government very few options in staving off its imminent insolvency.
Earlier today (Oct. 7) an announcement was made by a former Italian minister that a private bailout of Monte de Paschi di Siena was in the works. But late this afternoon Zerohedge reported that this plan had broken down, leaving Renzi and the Italian government very few options in staving off its imminent insolvency.
“Monte Paschi private bailout attempt has failed: “former Italian minister is preparing an alternative rescue plan for Monte Paschi”
Perhaps
what is most interesting in this unfolding drama is that behind the
scenes, Prime Minister Renzi has been in talks with Russia to try to
re-invigorate trade that has been lost from the EU's imposition of
economic sanctions. And what this appears to do under the surface is
act as a backup for Italy in case they inevitably decide to leave the
Euro and the EU, and have need of an economic boost once they isolate
themselves from Brussels.
“Scheduled meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will give a positive impetus to the bilateral relations, Russian Ambassador to Italy Sergei Razov said Thursday.
”The expected meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will provide an important new political impetus to the development of our bilateral relations at all levels,” Razov said as quoted by askanews.
He added that the relations between Russia and Italy were developing despite the complicated environment of anti-Russia sanctions imposed by the European Union.
Britain's
leaving the EU was sure to spark more nations, especially ones who have
been under the sword of austerity these past several years, to find the
courage to either seek reforms, or vote to exit the Union altogether.
And in the coming weeks we will find out if Brussels and the ECB can
come up with a solution to the escalating financial crises boiling over
in both Italy and Germany, or if it spells the end of the Grand Union
Experiment, and quite possibly even the end of the Euro itself.
