ROME – The Italian parliament has passed a law permitting the government to finance a new British American Tobacco (BAT) factory in Trieste, partly as a result of lobbying by Ettore Rosato, an MP from the liberal Italia Viva party, political sources said. The news comes just weeks after the leader of Viva Italia, Matteo Renzi, was charged with illegal financing from Open, a foundation that helped the politician rise from mayor of Florence to Prime Minister and which has also received a huge sum from BAT.

 Between 2014 and 2017, the London multinational financed Open with 253,000 euros. This has led to accusations of corruption for former minister Luca Lotti, lawyer and Open president Alberto Bianchi, vice president of BAT Giovanni Carucci and the head of external relations Gianluca Ansalone.

 The recent decree will regulate the arrival of newly developed nicotine patches, which insert between the lip and gum, onto the Italian market. BAT has invested 500 million euros to build a factory in Trieste to produce the product. According to several direct sources, Ettore Rosato, who works closely with Renzi as a coordinator of Viva Italia, gave himself “body and soul” to ensure its approval.

 Il Fatto Quotidiano asked MP Rosato if he saw the conflict of interest in light of the findings of the Open investigation.

 Rosato responded curtly, “A 500 million euro investment in Italy, and over 2500 jobs in Trieste. I fight for my country and my city.”

 Il Fatto reminded him that he does not have the right to put pressure on the approval of the proposal, as he is not a member of either of the two competent committees. “They will fine me for overworking,” was his reply.

 The amendment in question, filed in the Chamber's Constitutional Affairs and Budget Commissions, aims to postpone the increase in consumption taxes on electronic cigarettes, brought into force on Jan. 1, until 2023. The rule concerns products “containing nicotine and prepared in order to allow, without combustion and without inhalation, the absorption of this substance by the body,” a description which fits BAT’s nicotine sachets perfectly.

 The change was approved by a large majority on Feb. 17, however Il Fatto heard from inside sources that many did not understand what the vote implied.

 Among the few to oppose it were the three members of Alternativa - former Five Star Movement MP Andrea Colletti, Raphael Raduzzi and Raffaele Trano. This last said he would denounce "yet another gift given by the government to a multinational.” Forza Italia also voted against the alteration, with deputy leader Montecitorio Raffaele Nevi saying, "it is unthinkable to send such a complex amendment, which effectively regulates an entire sector, just before putting it to the vote and without discussing it in the majority.”

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