Only days earlier Charles Prince, boss of Citigroup, had paid a fence-mending visit to Carlo Ciampi, Italy's president.

ECONOMIST: Parmalat

In 1992 and 1993, he picked two capable men, Giuliano Amato and then Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, to lead technocratic governments.

ECONOMIST: Italy

But he then upset the opposition and the president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, by hinting that the election might be delayed to May.

ECONOMIST: Italy's election