Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday she was not in charge of AGI, the energy giant Eni-owned second biggest Italian press agency. AGI is rumored to be set for sale to rightwing newspaper owner and League MP Antonio Angelucci amid conflict of interest and freedom of information fears.
"I know nothing about what Eni is doing with AGI. I have no interest in the matter," said Meloni. addressing suggestions that the economy ministry, which owns AGI through its control of Eni, is currently run by a party colleague of Angelucci's, Giancarlo Giorgetti, a League bigwig. Angelucci, 79, already owns conservative dailies Il Tempo, IlGiornale (ex-Berlusconi) and Libero, and his bid for AGI has been criticized on competition, freedom of Information, and conflict of interest grounds. AGI journalists have been striking against the proposed deal, and the Italian journalists union FNSI has also voiced these concerns.