Eni-one so long as it's not foreign

1 Mar 2006 By Hugo Dixon

In the wake of France s merger of Suez and GdF, Italian politicians are toying with harebrained schemes to defend their national champions. The government has given the EnelEni idea short shrift. But, in the midst of an election, there is a risk of populism gaining traction.

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Italy's industry minister, Claudio Scajola, tried to shoot down the idea that Eni and Enel might merge, saying it was not on the agenda.

This followed calls from some politicians for a merger of the two statecontrolled groups in the wake of French support for a merger between Suez and Gaz de France.

Asked if he would support such a merger, Romano Prodi, who is trying to unseat the Berlusconi government in next month's election, said: Certainly the need to strengthen national businesses has become urgent in this situation.

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