MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio blamed the French state for derailing merger talks between Fiat Chrysler and rival Renault (PA:RENA) saying Paris had come out poorly in the situation.
"State meddling is what caused the deal to fail and Renault wasn't happy with that. It was a market operation that could have helped Italy and Italians," Di Maio, who is also deputy prime minister, told Radio 24.
"I believe France cut a poor figure over a deal which was a market operation for which we showed respect.
"Despite being in touch with Fiat Chrysler and its top executives, we showed respect for the company and its negotiations."