Italy's agriculture minister on the attack

Luca Zaia, Italy's charismatic and controversial agricultural minister, has recently attracted a storm of protest after having expressed his dismay that a total ban on drinking and driving would criminalise the Italian wine industry. Critics accused the minister of putting economic interests first, and suggested the minister's comments that a glass or two of wine would not impair driving capabilities were 'unscientific' to say the least.

The minister, a keen media player, started his counter-offensive on Wednesday on his own website, www.lucazaia.it. (with its portrait of Zaia shown here allowing no doubt as to his allegiance to the wine industry)...