Eni, Italy’s largest energy and petroleum company, said they’re considering the sale of subsidiary company AGI – Italy’s second largest news agency – to a rightwing MP with links to Giorgia Meloni’s government.

Potential buyer, Antonio Angelucci, is a member of Italy’s rightwing League party (Lega per Salvini Premier), which rules alongside Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (“FdI”). Some reports suggest he’s offered €40million to buy AGI.

Opposition parties are concerned Italy’s press freedom could be further jeopardised by political interference. AGI employees gathered to protest against the sale at the Pantheon on Wednesday.

Angelucci already owns three daily newspapers: Libero, il Giornale and il Tempo. The sale would further concentrate media ownership in the hands of a politically influential few.

Italy has experienced the same conflicts of interest in recent years with the two largest media networks, MediaSet and RAI, maintaining considerable links to Meloni’s government. 

Her political mentor and ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011) owns MediaSet and her affiliates hold key positions at RAI. MediaSet and RAI share 75% of the Italian TV audience.

Eni has owned AGI since 1965 and the offer could present a tempting offer of new capital amid hard times for the Italian news industry. Were the sale to go ahead, Italy would be following the path of Hungary’s dire record on press freedom.