It was three and a half weeks ago - almost ancient history. Faced with the progression of the coronavirus epidemic, the Italian government set up, on March 1, a plan to support its economy of 3.6 billion euros, or 0.2% of its GDP. The country then has 1100 proven cases and 29 dead (they are more than 60,000 sick and more than 6,000 dead to date). In deficit, over-indebted, Rome calls for leniency from Brussels. That week, the 19 finance ministers of the euro zone consult by phone and say they are ready to "do the necessary", without further precise action, apart from the possible tolerance of a "temporary deviation from the trajectory of budgetary adjustment .
Read also: Banks will release loans for troubled businesses
A few days earlier, in an interview with the Financial Times , Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), assured to monitor the situation, without deeming a monetary response necessary. Receiving a small group of journalists for lunch at the same time in his apartment
This article is for subscribers only. You still have 81% to discover.
Subscribe: € 1 for 2 months
cancellable at any time
Enter your emailAlready subscribed? Log in
