OfAntonella Baccaro
The M5S leader: «I thank Mentana for offering politics a plural debate». June 5th will be reserved for the major lists, the 6th for minor parties
The Communications Authority (Agcom) could intervene today on the TV duel between Giorgia Meloni and Elly Schlein, scheduled for 23 May, on Porta a Porta on Rai 1. Forza Italia and the opposition contest this and demand a discussion extended to all. He seizes the opportunity the director of La7 news, Enrico Mentana, inviting the leaders of the lists for a comparison in two rounds: on June 5th and 6th and collecting the immediate availability of Giuseppe Conte and Matteo Salvini.
Mentana offers a double appointment on La7, dividing the leaders into two evenings, at 9.20pm. In particular, Mentana explains on social media, «taking the latest publicable SWG survey, that of May 23rd, we will reserve the evening of June 6th for representatives of the major lists. This is the proposal, we await the answers.” The first to arrive was, in fact, Conte’s: «It is a method that respects the principle of equality between political forces and does not give undue advantages. I thank Mentana and La7 for offering politics a plural and coherent debate with the European Championship scheme.” The League also responds to the offer: «Salvini is available to make comparisons anywhere and with anyone, with seriousness and clear rules». And if availability could soon arrive from leaders of other parties, for now Meloni and Schlein seemed very determined to limit the debate to their confrontation. But we’ll see.
Returning to Rai, yesterday it was the president of the Supervisory Commission Barbara Floridia (M5S) who asked Agcom to “guarantee equal conditions and treatment”, as per the regulation on equal treatment. According to Floridia, the duel that was organized for Rai by Bruno Vespa could not be included among the in-depth broadcasts, to which the regulation reserves wider scope. But it would instead be included in those of information, such as the electoral stands, for which the presence of more guests is required: from three to six. Therefore, not even organizing further duels, as Vespa is trying to do, would restore parity.
Agcom, which meets today for the usual weekly monitoring of equal conditions, also requested by Rai, which asked her for an opinion, she could develop an initial position, requesting Vespa to ensure equal space for the other leaders. It will be up to Vespa to decide how to act: for now the host has received the «no» from Giuseppe Conte (M5S) for a confrontation with Matteo Salvini (Lega) and from Antonio Tajani (FI) for a debate with Matteo Renzi (Italia viva). Conte and Tajani, like Carlo Calenda (Azione) and Angelo Bonelli (Avs), require a comparison between everyone. «In the European Championships you don’t run with the majority – Tajani specified -. At the European elections we run on proportional representation, so all forces must participate in the debate. There are no Serie A and Serie B forces.”
However, Agcom will not be able to impose preventive vetoes: if Vespa decides to proceed, it could intervene, only upon notification from the injured parties, to decide on any sanctions drawn up by its offices. Who would be called upon to evaluate whether Vespa’s having organised, or attempted to organise, other comparisons was a sufficient remedy for the level playing field to re-establish equal conditions. One wonders whether Rai, already the subject of constant controversy, will want to run the risk of potentially being sanctioned.
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May 14, 2024 (modified May 14, 2024 | 10:38 pm)
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