Politicians, trade unions and agribusiness associations in Italy have criticised the deal that will see Telefonica raising its stake in Telco, the company that controls Telecom Italia, to 66 percent, reports the Ansa news agency. Fabrizio Cicchitto, an MP from the centre-right Forza Italia, said the sale of Telecom Italia to Telefonica represents a true disaster for the Italian industrial system. Deputy Senate Speaker Maurizio Gasparri, also from Forza Italia, called on Telecom Italia management to provide clarification about the operation, given Telefonica's track record as shareholder of reference.
Luigi Angeletti, chief of the UIL union, said on Radio1 that this is another hard blow and means the loss of another of the few great enterprises that remained under Italian control. Agribusiness association Coldiretti said the deal was another example of the escalation of Spanish and French presence in Italy, while farmers' group Confederazioni Italiana Agricoltori (CIA) said the transaction is a "defeat for Made in Italy". Meanwhile, the managing director of Italy's powerful industry group Confindustria said the deal was a very important pivot for the industrial future.
