Controversy Surrounding Antonio Scurati’s Monologue on April 25 Celebration – Italian Public Television Rai Faces Backlash

The decision of the Italian public television RAI to put off the writer’s monologue Antonio Scurati (Naples, 1969) on the ceremony of April 25, the day of celebration of the spread Italy’s Nazi-fascism, causing a a great controversy in the country.

Scurati, famous for his books about the fascist dictator Benito Mussoliniamong which stands out M. The Macan Linn (M. The son of the Linn), is going to take part in the program on Saturday What will on the RAI 3 network, where the Neapolitan writer had to read a monologue dedicated to the Liberation festival.

Narrator of look television, Serena Bortone, announced this morning on their networks that Scurati’s speech had been cancelled. In his Instagram post, Bortone explained that he found out “with disgustand with real chance, that Scurati’s contract was terminated” without “plausible explanations”.

The content of the monologue

After the news of Scurati’s absence from the program, the newspaper said Republic released in the morning text of the speech the writer had to recite.

The opening paragraph began with a recollection of the kidnapping and death of the former secretary of the Socialist Union Party (PSU), Giacomo Matteottiwho was murdered by the fascists in 1924. In addition, Scurati recalled some symbolic places where hundreds of civilians were murdered by the Nazi-fascists.

The Neapolitan writer also referred in the text to current Italian politics, accusing the Government led by Giorgia Meloni of “trying to rewrite history” and “never criticizing the fascist experience”, co -close “until the slogan against fascism It is not expressed by the person who governs, the fascist ghost will remain infesting the house of Italian democracy”.

Opposite response

The decision to cancel Scurati’s participation was criticized as “censorship“by the opposition parties, who again criticized what they think was the right-wing Meloni government’s intentions to control public television and what is there.

The person in charge of Culture and Information of the Democratic Party (PD), Sandro Ruotolo, criticizing the public service calling it “TeleMeloni.” The progressive politician has also said that “the dismissal of Scurati five days before Independence Day is an unacceptable decision” and has asked for an explanation from RAI, “because of this censorship.” intolerable“.

The 5 Star Movement, led by the former prime minister, Giuseppe Contethrough both grandfathers Dolores Bevilacqua y Luca Pirondini He announced this morning that he will take the case to the RAI control commission in the coming days, saying that the decision of public television is “absurd” and that it is “a ban on censorship.”

Executive Secretary, Carlo Calendahe admitted that “eliminating the intervention of a great writer for political reasons inappropriate and unworthy”, lamenting that “this is happening in Russia and cannot happen in a European country.” The liberal politician wants to “apologise and immediately restore the canceled monologue.”

Also secretary of Italian left and vice president, Nicola Fratoianni, described the episode as “very serious, disgusting and dangerous”; He has also asked “Meloni and his partners” to explain to citizens and has announced that his political party will make an agreement. parliamentary question about it.

RAI: “Scurati’s involvement was never questioned”

However, content director Rai, Paolo Corsiniexplained in a note that the elimination of the agreement was “an economic and contractual aspect, on which research due to higher than expected numbers and other promotional aspects.

“In addition to these bureaucratic issues – specified Corsini – Scurati’s ability to participate in the program. Ever questioned. No doubt.”

For the RAI journalists’ union, Usigrahithis is a measurement for “silence to intellectuals who are not welcome by those who rule.