European Commissioner for Budget Günther Oettinger | Hayoung Jeon/EPA Oettinger apologizes after Italy remarks spark storm Budget commissioner slammed by both Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker for his comments.

European Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger apologized on Tuesday after facing criticism for suggesting that financial markets would show Italians how to vote.

Oettinger told broadcaster Deutsche Welle in an interview conducted in German that the reaction of financial markets would give Italian voters a signal not to vote for populists.

“My concern and expectation is that the coming weeks will show that the development of the markets, government bonds and the economy of Italy will be so far-reaching that this will be a possible signal to voters not to vote for populists on the right or left,” Oettinger said.

“Already the developments of the government bonds, the market value of banks, the general course of the Italian economy is clearly overcast, is negative. This has to do with the possible government formation.”

Oettinger's remarks prompted an immediate backlash from Italy's populist 5Star Movement and League, as well as from EU leaders including European Council President Donald Tusk, who tweeted an “appeal” to EU institutions, saying “please respect the voters. We are there to serve them, not to lecture them.”

The Commission issued a statement on behalf of President Jean-Claude Juncker, saying that “Italy's fate does not lie in the hands of the financial markets.”

“Regardless of which political party may be in power, Italy is a founding member of the European Union that has contributed immensely to European integration. President Juncker is convinced that Italy will continue on its European path. The Commission is ready to work with Italy with responsibility and mutual respect. Italy deserves respect,” Juncker said.

Oettinger later issued his own statement and apology, saying that he fully respected “the will of voters being left, right or centre and in every country.”

“By referring to the actual market developments in Italy, I did not mean to be disrespectful and I apologise for this. Italy as a founding member played and plays an important role in European integration and I hope it will continue on this path,” he said.

Much of the criticism of Oettinger’s remarks appears to have been sparked by a tweet in English from the journalist who conducted the interview. He quoted Oettinger using a more blunt formulation: "The markets will teach the Italians to vote for the right thing." The reporter later deleted and apologized for the tweet, admitting he had misquoted Oettinger.

Citing the misquoted remarks, 5Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio called the comment “absurd.”

“These people treat Italy like a summer camp where they go to spend vacation,” Di Maio tweeted. “But in a few months we will have a government of change and we will finally get respect in Europe.”

League party leader Matteo Salvini also tweeted a screenshot of the journalist’s deleted tweet and said “If this is not a threat… I’m not afraid.”

In 2013, Oettinger said Italy is “essentially barely governable.” When asked about this comment in the Deutsche Welle interview, he said that he has confidence in Italy’s president to “make the coalition partners of a potential government aware of their rights and responsibilities which result from being members of the European Union and eurozone.

“We also have confidence in the new technocratic government, and we are counting on potential elections to bring a result with which Italy can be governed in a pro-European way.”

Italy has struggled to form a government after the inconclusive March 4 election. An attempt to form a coalition with the 5Star Movement and League failed on Sunday after President Sergio Mattarella rejected their Euroskeptic pick for economy minister.

Juncker’s own comments before the Italian election seemed to impact financial markets in February when he said that the EU should “brace ourselves for the worst scenario and the worst scenario could be no operational government.”

The Commission president later tried to smooth things over, by saying “whatever the outcome, I am confident that we will have a government that makes sure that Italy remains a central player in Europe and in shaping its future.”