Calabria opposition questions Fincalabra 300 million euro MPS investment

Opposition members of the Calabria Regional Council, led by Elisabetta Barbuto of the Five Star Movement, have filed an urgent inquiry regarding a massive investment by Fincalabra S.p.A. in Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS).

Reports indicate that Fincalabra, an in-house company of the Calabria Region, has acquired a stake of approximately 0.93% in MPS, valued at an estimated 300 million euros. This acquisition reportedly occurred in recent months amid Intesa Sanpaolo’s takeover bid and ahead of a crucial assembly on October 29.

Critics have labeled the move as an “anomalous operation without any economic rationale,” noting that Fincalabra’s net equity was only 8 million euros as of December 31, 2025, against a financial exposure of 300 million. The opposition argues that the company’s mission should focus on supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises rather than engaging in high-risk national banking speculation.