Italy: Berlusconi intervenes against unpopular talk shows
Silvio Berlusconi has asked the public prosecutor's office whether an investigation has been launched against him for alleged influence peddling. This is the Italian head of government's response to a report in the daily newspaper Il Fatto, which accuses him of exerting pressure on the state broadcaster RAI and the communications authority to close down a talk show critical of the government.
According to a telephone conversation intercepted by the public prosecutor's office of the city of Trani, Berlusconi also complained about reports critical of the government from other RAI programs. Augusto Minzolini, editor-in-chief of the daily news program TG1 broadcast by RAI 1, and the president of the communications authority Agcom, Giancarlo Innocenzi, had promised their support in the telephone conversations in order to cancel the programs. Minzolini has often been targeted by the opposition because of his TG1's pro-government reporting.
Prosecutors had accidentally intercepted Berlusconi's telephone conversations with Minzolini and Innocenzi while investigating another case, Il Fatto reported. The new scandal threatens to add fuel to the fire of controversy over the control exercised by the prime minister and media owner over the Italian television system. Opposition politician Antonio Di Pietro demanded the resignation of the TG1 editor-in-chief and the president of the communications authority. However, they refused to do so.
Prosecutors had accidentally intercepted Berlusconi's telephone conversations with Minzolini and Innocenzi while investigating another case, Il Fatto reported. The new scandal threatens to add fuel to the fire of controversy over the control exercised by the prime minister and media owner over the Italian television system. Opposition politician Antonio Di Pietro demanded the resignation of the TG1 editor-in-chief and the president of the communications authority. However, they refused to do so.
