(ANSA) - Rome, November 6 - Roberto Battiston has been axed
as president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) by Education,
University and Research Minister Marco Bussetti, Battiston said
in a tweet Tuesday.
"Today Minister Bussetti to my surprise communicated to me
the immediate revocation of the post of ASI President," he said.
"It is the first (demonstration of the) spoil system at a
research agency," Battiston said.
"Thank you to the thousands of people with whom I shared four
fantastic years of Italian space".
Battiston was removed in order to make a formal verification
on the procedures by which he was appointed, sources at the
education, university and research ministry said Tuesday.
Battiston axed as ASI chief
'First sign of spoil system in research field'