The majority changes the level playing field, Rai journalists: “Public service is the government's megaphone”

The majority changes the level playing field in view of the European elections

In view of the European elections, the majority approved an amendment in the Supervisory Authority that changes the level playing field by excluding information on institutional activity from the TV space counts.

A decision that provoked a reaction from the opposition but also from Rai journalists. Thanks to the rule approved by the government majority in the Supervisory Commission, in fact, the center-right will have more space available on television networks and will be able to use government activity to campaign for the European elections.

Tough stance taken by Usigrai, the RAI journalists' union, which in a communicated he writes: “The government majority has decided to transform Rai into its own megaphone. It did so through the Supervisory Commission which approved a rule that allows government representatives to speak in talks without time constraints and without cross-examination”.

“Not only that, Rainews24 will be able to broadcast political rallies in full, without any journalistic mediation, preceded only by an acronym. This is not our idea of ​​public service, where at the center is the work of journalists who ask questions (even uncomfortable ones), verify what is said, point out inconsistencies. For this reason, dear viewers, we inform you that we are ready to mobilize to guarantee you independent, balanced and plural information”.

“If the right to inform and be informed about the government's activities has always been guaranteed on an equal footing by the laws in force, after more than twenty years amend the resolutions to ensure that the government always has the say in a political-electoral debate it is a clear distortion, a very worrying sign” states a The Republic Antonio Nicita, vice-president of the Democratic Party senators and member of the Agcom Supervision Commission.

The group leader of the Greens/Italian Left in the Senate, Peppe De Cristofaro, however, underlines that this is “a dangerous and serious precedent, the confirmation that the one governing the country is an anti-democratic right that considers Rai, the public service, something her”.