Journalists from Italy’s state broadcaster RAI will strike next month in protest against the “suffocating control” over their work by the right-wing government of Georgia Melonireporters’ union Usigrai said on Thursday, as quoted by Reuters,
The union criticized political attempts “to turn RAI into a mouthpiece of the government” among the many reasons for discontent behind The 24-hour strike scheduled for May 6.
Other issues include staff shortages and the cancellation of a performance bonus agreement.
Undue political influence on the RAI is a long-standing problem in Italy that flared up again last weekend in the last-minute cancellation of a talk show appearance by writer Antonio Scurati.
He was due to deliver a monologue on the national holiday on April 25, celebrating Italy’s liberation from fascism, in which he criticized Meloni’s party for not denying its “post-fascist past”.
Representatives for RAI and Meloni denied censoring Scurati’s monologue, with the company saying it was pulled for unspecified “editorial reasons.”
Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party traces its origins to the fascists of wartime dictator Benito Mussolini, denounced all forms of totalitarianism and spoke of his abhorrence of fascism. However, she avoids defining herself as “anti-fascist”, despite frequent calls to do so.
RAI is at the heart of Italy’s “friendly appointments” system and successive governments doled out high offices there to reward loyal patrons. The members of the board, appointed by the parliament and the government, are chosen according to their party affiliation.
Proposals for more independent television have been discussed for years, but have never come to fruition.
Since Meloni took office in 2022, several senior executives and presenters have left RAI, complaining of government interference, and critics have raised concerns about legislation proposed by the “Italian Brothers” to increase penalties for defamation.
Unirai, a smaller union of journalists than RAI, said it would not join next month’s strike, calling it a “political” protest.
They arrested 13 guards in Italy on suspicion of abusing minors
The arrested and eight other employees have been suspended
