The third Fiat restructuring plan – put forward by Italian financier Emilio Gnutti this week – has a strong “political” element which could help beat off the rival offering by entrepeneur Roberto Colaninno.

Italian Prime Minister has a personal 5.4 per cent stake in Hopa, the investment group which Gnutti has told the Fiat board he will use as the vehicle for a 500m euro investment into the Fiat group to help fund a Fiat Auto turnaround.