Italy: State television suspends TV presenter critical of Berlusconi
The Italian public broadcaster Rai has suspended the well-known host Michele Santoro, who is known for his sharp criticism of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The presenter of the political magazine Anno Zero was relieved of all duties for ten days on Wednesday and will not receive any pay during this time.officially, the suspension was imposed as a disciplinary measure for insulting Rai director Mauro Masi during a program on September 22. However, numerous media assume that Santoro was to be punished for his criticism of Berlusconi.
This is a disciplinary measure of unprecedented severity, Santoro is quoted as saying by the SDA. He announced that he would take legal action against it in "all possible instances". Santoro's ten-day ban is to apply from next Monday and will lead to the cancellation of two editions of his political magazine show on the Rai Due channel.
The political magazine Anno Zero, which mixes panel discussions with political reports, satirical caricatures and biting commentary on the trials against Berlusconi on Thursday evenings, regularly achieves ratings of 20 percent. Berlusconi, who has several loyal members on the board of directors of Rai, has repeatedly criticized Santoro's programme as biased.
This is a disciplinary measure of unprecedented severity, Santoro is quoted as saying by the SDA. He announced that he would take legal action against it in "all possible instances". Santoro's ten-day ban is to apply from next Monday and will lead to the cancellation of two editions of his political magazine show on the Rai Due channel.
The political magazine Anno Zero, which mixes panel discussions with political reports, satirical caricatures and biting commentary on the trials against Berlusconi on Thursday evenings, regularly achieves ratings of 20 percent. Berlusconi, who has several loyal members on the board of directors of Rai, has repeatedly criticized Santoro's programme as biased.
