Italy sells officials' luxury cars on eBay
Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement has mocked the Italian government for trying to claw back money spent on a fleet of luxury cars through eBay, saying that while 170 cars are being sold, “210 are about to be bought”.
Offers have been rolling in since the first 19 cars, including nine Alfa Romeos, a BMW and a Thesis, were put up for auction on eBay on Thursday, with bids currently ranging between €3,931 and €18,150.
The most popular car so far is a 2007 Alfa Romeo, which has attracted 87 offers, with the highest being €8,450. Buyers must collect the vehicles from Rome and have 14 days to claim a refund.
Italy’s new prime minister Matteo Renzi aims to sell a further 151 cars which are “no longer considered useful” by April 16th in a bid to bring in much-needed cash.
The fleet was previously owned by the justice, interior and defence ministries.
The government has often been criticized by Italians for the money squandered on cars, especially as people have endured severe austerity.
Renzi hopes to repeat the eBay success he had when he sold four cars early in his term as mayor of Florence.
But the Five Star Movement is unimpressed.
“After having advertised the sale of 170 cars, the government forgets that another 210 are about to be purchased,” the party said in comments posted on Quifinanza.it.
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Offers have been rolling in since the first 19 cars, including nine Alfa Romeos, a BMW and a Thesis, were put up for auction on eBay on Thursday, with bids currently ranging between €3,931 and €18,150.
The most popular car so far is a 2007 Alfa Romeo, which has attracted 87 offers, with the highest being €8,450. Buyers must collect the vehicles from Rome and have 14 days to claim a refund.
Italy’s new prime minister Matteo Renzi aims to sell a further 151 cars which are “no longer considered useful” by April 16th in a bid to bring in much-needed cash.
The fleet was previously owned by the justice, interior and defence ministries.
The government has often been criticized by Italians for the money squandered on cars, especially as people have endured severe austerity.
Renzi hopes to repeat the eBay success he had when he sold four cars early in his term as mayor of Florence.
But the Five Star Movement is unimpressed.
“After having advertised the sale of 170 cars, the government forgets that another 210 are about to be purchased,” the party said in comments posted on Quifinanza.it.
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