Italian PM candidate faces questions over CV

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The little-known law professor nominated to be Italy's next prime minister was accused on Tuesday of inflating his international academic credentials.

The anti-establishment Five Star Movement and League parties, who have agreed on a program for government, nominated Giuseppe Conte as prime minister on Monday.

However, the row over his resume added to doubts about whether the political novice was the right person to head a planned coalition government that has spooked financial markets and the European Union.

Sergio Mattarella, Italy's president. /VCG Photo

President Sergio Mattarella, instead of endorsing the choice of the populist parties immediately, played for time and sought further consultations.

CV questions

Questions have been raised about various details put forward by Conte, who says he "perfected his judicial studies" at numerous foreign institutions, including Cambridge University, New York University (NYU) and Paris's Sorbonne.

The New York Times quoted an NYU spokeswoman as saying: "A person by that name does not show up in any of our records as either a student or faculty member."

Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio talks with the press after leaving the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, Italy, May 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

She added he might have attended one or two-day programs, for which there were no records. In one curriculum vitae posted on the parliament website, Conte says he studied at NYU every year from 2008 to 2012 "for periods of not less than a month."

Conte himself made no comment, but Five Star issued a statement saying he had never claimed to have followed any specific course or to have received a master's degree from the university.

"Conte, like any researcher, went abroad to study, to deepen his knowledge, to perfect his English legal language skills," the party said. "So the international press and the Italian press are going wild over presumed qualifications that Conte has never claimed to have."

Cambridge University declined to comment on whether Conte had studied there, as he claimed, in September 2001 – a month when the university is normally closed for the summer break.

A university source told Reuters they had not found any trace of a visit, but said the professor might have attended a course prepared by a third party.

Matteo Salvini, leader of the League political party speaks to the press on May 21, 2018 in Rome, Italy. /VCG Photo

The Sorbonne said it was reviewing its records to see what research Conte might have carried out.

"If he didn't study at NYU, what guarantees are there that the rest of the CV is right? To start with a lie is certainly not the best way to be presented to the head of state as a possible premier," said Michele Anzaldi, a lawmaker with the center-left Democratic Party.

EU urges 'responsibility'

Italy must strive to pursue a "responsible" budget policy, the European Commission vice-president in charge of the euro said in an interview published Tuesday.

"We view it as important that the Italian government remains on course in pursuing a responsible budget policy," Valdis Dombrovskis told German business daily Handelsblatt, noting that Italy has the second highest level of state debt after Greece.

Italy's 2.3 trillion euros of debt is 132 percent of its gross domestic product, the highest ratio anywhere in Europe apart from Greece.

The Five Star-League "Contract for the Government of Change" rejects post-financial crisis austerity policies and features hardline immigration and security proposals.

Market selling pause

As Mattarella took time to make his decision on Conte, Italian markets paused after six days of heavy selling sparked by concerns the proposed government might undermine the heavily indebted economy with its plans for a spending splurge.

Italian 10-year yields have risen nearly 70 basis points since the start of the month, while the cost of insuring against Italian government debt was at its highest in seven months.

"Conte looks rather like a puppet for the Five Star and League leaders to push through their agenda," Commerzbank strategist Christoph Rieger told Reuters.

Conte, 54, has taught law across Italy and has a full professorship in Florence. He does not have a PhD or a master's degree, but has contributed to dozens of legal publications.

Mattarella hosted the speakers of the lower house and the Senate on Tuesday to discuss Conte's nomination. There was no word on when the president might make his next move.

(With input from agencies)

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