ENIT employees demand merger with ICE in letter to Renzi

Employees and nearly all managers of ENIT, the Italian National Tourism Agency, have sent a letter to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi requesting the agency's merger with ICE, the state entity promoting economic and trade relations abroad. The letter, reported by Artribune on May 2015, describes ENIT as a parking lot for cronies and a money-wasting machine, arguing that the merger is the only way to give the agency a purpose and save Italy from the poor image created by Expo 2015 and the Verybello! website. The signatories claim ENIT is compromising Italy's tourism image with foreign press and international operators. Notable non-signatories include extraordinary commissioner Cristiano Radaelli, appointed a year ago by Minister Dario Franceschini, and director general A.B., under investigation in Rome for alleged irregularities in his appointment. The positions of Franceschini and Renzi remain unclear.