Italy's economy minister insists abandoning euro not planned

ROME (AP) — Italy's new populist government isn't considering leaving the eurozone, the country's economy minister insisted, dismissing financial markets' rocky reaction to the euroskeptic coalition now in power as "normal questions that accompany political transition."

Economy Minister Giovanni Tria told Italy's national Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published Sunday that the "position of the government is clear-cut and unanimous. No plan to exit from the euro is being discussed."

Tria, an economics policy professor who was a last-minute choice for the Cabinet post, went further with his avowal that Italy's footing in the 19-member shared currency union is firm.