Economist Savona Is Front-Runner to Become Italy’s Finance Minister

Paolo Savona, an 81-year-old economist and company executive who’s repeatedly called on the Italian government to plan for a possible euro exit, is the front-runner to become the finance minister in the country’s populist administration now being formed, officials said.

Savona, who served as industry minister a quarter of a century ago in the short-lived technocrat cabinet led by late Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, is the candidate picked by the euro-skeptic Five Star Movement and League, according to two officials from the parties, who declined to be named discussing confidential talks.