The court rejects Ranucci's appeal for reinstatement to Report

The Labor Court of Rome rejected the urgent appeal presented by Sigfrido Ranucci against the removal from hosting the "Report" program decided by Rai at the end of August.

The motivation

Rai's decision "to proceed with a reorganization of the editorial team, with alternation of authorship and leadership, appears, upon summary examination and based on the findings made, to be detached from the parallel disciplinary matter and adopted as a means of resolving the situation of internal tension created among the members of the editorial team and, as such, an instrument for protecting the serene operations of the latter in compliance with the law". This is what the labor judge of the Court of Rome, Donatella Casari, reported in the order with which she rejected the urgent appeal presented by Ranucci.

Ranucci: "I accept the sentence peacefully"

"It is obvious that I respect the judge's ruling: I have always fought for the independence of the judiciary and fighting for such a value does not mean taking off your shirt when it doesn't suit you and then putting it back on when necessary. So we take note of it: it is a decision that has embraced the idea that the media outcry can lead to the replacement of a presenter with an editorial team that has been subjected to pressure and that, consequently, there is no proof that Rai managers have suffered direct political influence. I calmly accept this sentence." Sigfrido Ranucci told the Ansa agency.

The lawyers' comment

"We take note of the decision of the Rome court, which we respect but which we do not share. The precautionary decision does not exhaust a matter that raises central questions on the relationship between organizational power, professional autonomy and freedom of information in the public service. We will evaluate the provision and the further initiatives to be taken in the competent bodies. The decisions of the judges are respected. The battles of principle, when they are deemed right, continue". This is the comment of the lawyers Franco Focareta, Franco Scarpelli, Stefano Rossi and Roberto De Vita, defenders of the same. Ranucci.

The proposals

The journalist was presented with three possible professional relocation options, "consistent with his rank and the experience gained in Rai" (THE STAGES OF THE LAVITOLA-RANUCCI CASE). Roberto De Vita, Ranucci's lawyer, had commented: "Rai's decision condemns the victim of an attack, Report and the independence of public information". Ranucci, in a post on social media, replied: "I will not host Report but I will lead the most important battle of my life for freedom of the press".

The suspension decided by Rai

Only a few days ago, Rai had decided on a ten-day suspension from work and pay for Ranucci. At the basis of the Viale Mazzini decision there were four disciplinary complaints: about fifty entries by Laura Cianfoni, former CISL trade unionist and close to Ranucci, to the RAI offices; the publication of some private conversations with the M5s parliamentarian Dario Carotenuto; several company emails forwarded to Valter Lavitola; the denigration of colleagues, in particular Giulia Presutti and Daniele Piervincenzi, initially indicated to succeed Ranucci at the helm of Report. Presutti then withdrew, and in her place the new face of the program - scheduled to start on November 8th - will be Claudia Di Pasquale.

In-depth analysis

Sigfrido Ranucci suspended for ten days by Rai