Porta a Porta, only men at Bruno Vespa to talk about abortion. The president of Rai Soldi calls the presenter back

Bruno Vespa and his Porta a Porta ended up in the storm. A still image from last night's episode has gone viral on social media: it shows the study of the famous Rai 1 program where abortion is discussed. However, only men were present: the host Bruno Vespa, five guests in the studio and one in remote connection. Not even a woman.

The controversy that started on social media then spread to political buildings. The first to comment was the dem senator Annamaria Furlan: “The Italy of the Meloni government is taking shape: a country in which there is only room for one woman, the Prime Minister. Men are preferred to all others.”

Again from the Democratic Party, MP Ilenia Malavasi, member of the Social Affairs Commission, raises the issue: “Seven dapper men talking about abortion and clinics: last night on Porta a Porta, on the main public TV channel, the precise representation of the Government ideology (and not only): no women involved in issues concerning female reproductive health and freedom of choice. At a certain point they put one on video, a midwife, shot from behind. And that's it.”

According to the Avs group leader in the Senate, Peppe De Cristofaro, member of the Rai Supervisory Board, this is “a very serious matter, a violation of the company's code of ethics, on which – he anticipated – we will present a question to the Rai Supervisory Commission and on which I will ask President Floridia to summon the managing director Sergio and the general director Rossi”.

In the afternoon the news then arrived that president Marinella Soldi had written to Bruno Vespa. The president, according to what we learn from sources in Viale Mazzini, recalled the fundamental role of the public service in particular on such a sensitive issue and which she directly calls women's bodies into question.

“He who, as director of Tg1, entrusted the hosting of the 1.30pm program to three women cannot be insensitive to the presence of women,” replied Vespa. “Beyond the specific circumstance which I believe I have amply clarified, I recalled that the reputation of Porta a Porta comes from hosting very representative politicians – continued the host -. Well there are only 5 women (Pd and M5S) out of 18 presidents, vice-presidents and presidents of the parliamentary groups of the top 5 parties. In any case, we will do everything we can to guarantee women the role they deserve.”