MESSINA – Great participation today in Messina for the “Report” journalist Siegfried Ranucci. In the foreground are the investigations of the famous show: from the management of the bridge over the Strait to the many investigations involving politics, controversies are never lacking. Dialoguing with the city councilor Antonella Russo, on the initiative of the “Bonanzinga” bookshop, in a crowded Santa Maria Alemanna, Ranucci presented the book “The Choice” (Bompiani). For the first time, the journalist, presenter and television author talks about his human and professional journey. And this morning in Messina he did not shy away from talking about the pitfalls of his investigative work and the continuous attacks from those in power, among many enemies, false dossiers and attacks on the freedom to inform.
Ranucci underlined: “We talk about a sick society, where corruption often dominates. And, to do this, many prices are paid, including the escort, which was assigned to me because an attack was being prepared against me.” The symbolic face of “Report”, after Milena Gabanelli’s farewell, spoke of the attacks of many politicians, from Tosi to Renzi, and of the period in which “someone created false dossiers against me”.
After the passionate story of his journalistic journey, and the pitfalls of his investigative activity, a final question was asked by Antonella Russo on the topic of the bridge over the Strait, which Ranucci sees as an electoral operation: “I’m going back to Messina , see how many people… The bridge cost me two lawsuits. Having the possibility, even symbolically, to cross the two banks is important. But I don’t find the sense, when a politician declares it, to say we build the bridge as an excuse to do other things. But does the politician need a pretext? The politician decides and must decide what is best for the people. The management of the most important work in our country was carried out, with data and studies, in an almost secret manner. In recent years the pact of loyalty between the citizen and the politician who represents them has broken down.”
“In Italy 250 journalists under protection and rules are on the way to imprison journalists”
Ranucci recalled that “in Italy there are 250 journalists under protection. 22 under guard. We have the world record of politicians suing journalists. Children of La Russa, Sgarbi, Giorgetti, Giorgetti’s wife, Giorgetti’s wife’s sister, Fontana, Fontana’s daughter, the Berlusconi family, Fascina, Gasparri sued me, for example. And a series of laws are about to be passed that scare me. Meanwhile, those who will prevent the names of those arrested. Or the possibility of arresting journalists who publish illegal news. Colleagues who have carried out international investigations, such as those of Panama Papers, were awarded the Pulitzer. Here they risk prison.”
