“Political war against Rai, never received phone calls” –

The controversy linked to Antonio Scurati does not abate, the writer who last night was supposed to recite a monologue for April 25th on “What will be…” and whose participation was then cancelled. The opposition shouted censorship and the journalist himself pointed the finger at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Today, in an interview with La Stampa, the CEO of Rai Roberto Sergio broke his silence. “For Monday I asked for a report, drastic measures will be taken… surreal how this might have happened, it is necessary to investigate and give answers. Whoever made the mistake pays”, he began. “No one informed me. I learned regarding the Scurati case from the post that the journalist Serena Bortone published on social profiles”, explained Sergio, who then stated: “We should have acted differently. We can also discuss the request for 1,800 euros for a minute in the broadcast, whether it was exaggerated or not or not compatible with Rai standards, and therefore also ethically unacceptable, but I certainly would not have censored it”.

The RAI CEO assured that, if he had “been aware” of the negotiations with the writer, “the issue would have had a different outcome, I would have aired it and I would have asked Serena Bortone, if necessary, for a rebalancing pursuant to the legislation governing par condicio”. But, according to Sergio, the problem, “the crux is another: for weeks Rai has been the victim of a daily political war with the aim of destroying it”. The CEO did not indicate traces or identikits of the alleged instigators of Viale Mazzini, but reiterated: “I have never received interventions or phone calls from the government majority to influence choices on programmes, presenters or topics of any kind”.