(Alliance News) - The postponement of the privatization of Poste Italiane Spa, part of the government's plan to cash in EUR20 billion by 2026 and reduce public debt, is generating political and financial questions.

As Il Corriere della Sera highlights on Monday, the Treasury suspended the sale of the 14 percent stake without official explanation, sparking speculation about the reasons, including a desire to avoid coinciding with the discussion on the financial maneuver and review the details of the offer.

The chairwoman, Giorgia Meloni, has indicated the priority of reserving the shares for small Italian savers, pushing away the possibility of sale to large international investors, and has initiated contacts with Italian banking foundations to form a stable core of Italian shareholders.

The government could launch the offer by the end of 2024, but further postponements may be necessary.

Poste, which recently reached a record capitalization of EUR17.1 billion, has diversified its business from postal operations to an ecosystem of financial, insurance, digital and telecommunications services, confirming its attractiveness to the market should the government decide to go ahead with the sale.

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

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