Pietro Mattei, heir to Eni founder Enrico Mattei, has served the Meloni government with a legal notice demanding it cease using his uncle’s name for the flagship Africa cooperation scheme. The letter argues the “Mattei plan” conflicts with Enrico’s post‑war stance on migration and energy independence, and threatens to involve the courts if the name remains and seeks immediate removal.

Meloni launched the Mattei plan in 2023 to curb migration by funding youth employment projects across African nations, positioning it as a legacy of the founder’s practice of training foreign workers and redeploying them to home markets. Critics say the scheme mirrors U.S. interests rather than the autonomous oil strategy Enrico championed, a point highlighted by Pietro’s grievance.

Family discord surfaced as sister Rosangela Mattei dismissed the notice as “out of line,” while both siblings continue litigation to reclaim two valuable paintings and other assets tied to Enrico’s estate. The dispute puts pressure on the Mattei plan and could tarnish Eni’s brand association with its founder, adding a fresh political headache for a government already reeling from a failed justice referendum.