The case of the alleged censorship of Antonio Scurati’s monologue, included in the programme What will be by Serena Bortone and then hindered by the Rai top management, heated up the debate in the Supervisory Commission. Yesterday, 23 April, the opposition had supported the request of the leader of the Democratic Party, Stefano Graziano, to listen to the version of the presenter and Rai Insights director, Paolo Corsini. The majority was opposed and the president of the bicameral parliament, Barbara Floridia, had to submit the hearing request to the commission’s vote. In this morning’s session, the center-right – which holds the majority in the plenary – voted to reject the proposal. The reason given is the desire to await the outcome of the internal investigation launched in Viale Mazzini. Not even the opposition’s request to hear the two after May 8 was approved: that day, in fact, the hearing of Rai CEO Roberto Sergio and CEO Giampaolo Rossi Rossi is scheduled.
The PD’s comment: «An incomprehensible stretch»
The Democratic Party, in a note, harshly commented on the centre-right’s behaviour: «It is a serious breach, an incomprehensible forcing. These are methods we have already seen. The Rai Supervisory Commission is silenced by a majority vote. What is even more serious is that this happens on the eve of Liberation Day. Parliament must be put in a position to shed light on a serious case of management of Rai. What are they afraid of? Won’t the increasingly insistent rumors about direct contacts between Palazzo Chigi and the Rai top management for the management of the “Scurati case” worry Giorgia Meloni?”. Same tones in the statement from the supervisory group leader of the 5 Star Movement, Dario Carotenuto: «The Melonians have raised a wall by preventing Bortone’s hearing with majority blows, after rudely attacking her in recent days. Our appeal for common sense and to bring the debate that is underway throughout the country to the institutional place appointed to discuss it was of no avail: they preferred to censor the Supervisory Board too.” And again: «It is not enough for them to make private use of Rai, they push themselves to do the same with the Supervisory Commission, using it for their own use. When it came to summoning Sigfrido Ranucci to intimidate him after his investigations, they did it. Now they hide behind specious formalities to prevent the commission from examining in depth a topic debated throughout the country. This sends the wrong message and undermines the authority of the institution.”
Gasparri’s relaunch: «We are faced with exploitation»
For the centre-right, Maurizio Gasparri spoke, always active on issues that intertwine the worlds of politics and information: «The Bortone case appears clear. However, it will be necessary to delve deeper into the matter when the CEO and the CEO of Rai are heard in the commission on 8 May. On that occasion we will be able to know the first outcome of the checks underway in Rai. But things already appear clear”, he belittled. «There was no censorship. We are faced with exploitation, due more to concerns about future schedules than to non-existent censorship. In short, more entertainment than information”, he concluded.
