Italy holds on to controversial central bank chief

MILAN - 27 October 2017: Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco has been reappointed for a second six-year term, despite political attempts to show him the door, government sources told AFP on Friday.

Visco, a board member of the European Central Bank, has been accused by parties across the political spectrum of badly handling a banking crisis in the eurozone's third-largest economy, but enjoys the support of the president and the prime minister.

Reportedly close to ECB President Mario Draghi, who had his job before him, Visco, 67, has blamed the prolonged economic turndown for a crisis which has shaken 10 Italian banks.

President Sergio Mattarella has defended the softly-spoken chief from attacks lead largely by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), the anti-immigrant Northern League and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).

"If they think reconfirming Ignazio Visco is worth the effort, I hope the next six years will be better. I can't see how they could be worse," former PD prime minister Matteo Renzi said this week.

The bank troubles have wiped out the savings of thousands of people.

The country's fragile banking system, which some European financial watchers have labelled the weakest link in the eurozone, has been struggling to deal with legacy toxic debt holdings.