M. Renzi: Italy is no longer Greece’s “companion in misfortune”

Italy takes a step away from Greece

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday said his country is no longer a “companion in misfortune” to Greece. “We need to stop calling Italy the sick man of Europe, because it’s no longer true,” he told Italian channel TG5, a day ahead of the referendum which could determine Greece’s future.

He said he was no longer fearful of the consequences of Greece’s financial woes, unlike during 2011 when there were fears of a contagion spreading to other heavily-indebted European nations.

He said that reforms undertaken in Italy showed that “we are on the side of those who seek to resolve the problem.”