Alitalia must not be sold off to foreign companies-League leader

The leader of Italy's right-wing Northern League, part of a coalition tipped to get the most votes at an election March 4, said Tuesday that Alitalia must not be sold off at cut rates. "Italy needs a flag carrier, no fire sales to multinationals or foreigners," League leader Matteo Salvini said. The govt is now trying to sell Alitalia, which has turned a profit only a few times in its more than 70-year history. Several foreign buyers have expressed interest in the troubled airline, but the govt has missed its self-imposed deadline of mid-January to start exclusive sale talks. Alitalia has played a central role in previous Italian election campaigns, including that led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2008. Berlusconi, who said at the time that he would favour an Italian buyer for the firm, is running in coalition with Salvini in the upcoming vote. <br/>