- The Observer,
- Sunday January 6 2002
Ruggiero is one of the few Italian cabinet ministers to enjoy international recognition and his departure will weaken the government of Silvio Berlusconi, whose reputation has been tarnished by diplomatic gaffes and an ongoing corruption trial.
Tension first erupted on Thursday, when Ruggiero expressed regret at the negative reaction of his cabinet colleagues to the introduction of the euro. In contrast with the euphoria in the rest of Europe, Italian ministers spoke of the catastrophic consequences of failure or dismissed the development as of interest only to bureaucrats and bankers.
Ruggiero, a respected former director-general of the World Trade Organisation, responded with an interview in the Corriere della Sera in which he said he was saddened by the euroscepticism of his colleagues.
He had been expected to attempt to patch up differences with the Prime Minister at a meeting. However, his patience was further tried on Friday when Berlusconi's office issued a statement expressing support for his pro-European policies but undercut the effect by insisting Ruggiero was merely a 'technical' minister and that foreign policy was made by the Prime Minister.
Last night Berlusconi's office issued a statement saying Ruggiero was stepping down by mutual agreement, ending his collaboration with the government that both sides considered 'important, fruitful and, until now, positive'. The announcement followed a meeting between Ruggiero and the cabinet secretary, which evidently failed to convince the Foreign Minister that he still enjoyed the confidence of colleagues.
