M5S say will scrap journalists' guild

(ANSA) - Rome, September 25 - The ruling anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) said Tuesday it would abolish the Italian journalists' guild after it opened a probe into Premier Giuseppe Conte's spokesman Rocco Casalino after he threatened to purge uncooperative budget officials.
    "What use is the journalists' guild if is doesn't sanction the diffusion of fake news and unethical behaviour by journalists motivated only by party interests and not by the desire to inform citizens?", the M5S said on their blog.
    "It's no use. So we'll abolish it. The measure is already on the government's table".
    Casalino was caught on an audio recording saying economy ministry officials who obstructed the government's plan to use deficit spending to fund a universal basic income would be purged.
    In the recording with two journalists, he talked about the possibility of purging the economy ministry of officials who have allegedly been hampering the government's plan to introduce a 'citizenship wage' basic income.
    Opposition parties have called on Casalino to be sacked but Conte and his M5S both defended him and criticised the release of the audio.
    Casalino is a former participant in the Italian version of reality show Big Brother.