Italy's Berlusconi to retain company executives

ROME (Reuters) - Italian prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi said on Tuesday his government would confirm most of the executives of state-controlled companies in their positions.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi's outgoing government said ahead of the April 13-14 election that it would not make appointments to the companies, but leave that up to the next government.

The government appoints executives to companies such as Enel, Eni, Finmeccanica and Terna, giving politicians influence over a chunk of Italy's corporate world.

"The golden share that is in the hands of the government will be used to reconfirm of most of these managers," Berlusconi told a news conference when asked about the subject.

"There are some who themselves wish to leave and we will replace them," he added.

(Editing by Paul Bolding)