At a time when the defense ministry in Italy is supposed to be reducing its budget by €2.5bn ($3.4 billion USD) over the next three years, 19 top-of-the-line Maserati Quattroporte sedans are headed into the hands of Italian officials.

Eyebrows were raised by opposition MPs that said it was it was an outrageous indulgence at a time when the defense ministry should be cutting back.

An MP from the opposition Democratic Party, Emanuele Fiano, raised the issue in parliament saying: ”At a time when millions of Italians are being affected by a very serious economic crisis, is there good reason for the defence minister to feel it necessary to add 19 armoured Maseratis to the ministry’s car park?” he said.

The defense minister Ignazio La Russa, said that the statement was a “witch hunt” by the opposition and said the Quattroporte sedans had been paid for with money out of the 2008-2009 budget.

“What’s the problem? Maseratis are Italian and they cost less than their German equivalents,” he said. He’s got a point. However, he did forget to mention that each Quattroporte by Maserati starts at around $110,000.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Telegraph