The deputy chair of the
parliamentary anti-Mafia commission said Thursday it is
"peculiar" that the RAI public broadcaster oversight committee
has not yet scrutinized the controversial airing last night of
an interview with the son of jailed boss of bosses, Totò Riina.
The interview conducted by veteran TV presenter Bruno Vespa
on his Porta a Porta (Door to Door) talk show aired in spite of
protests from lawmakers, Mafia victims' relatives, and
activists.
"It is at the very least peculiar that...the anti-Mafia
commission moved first and in the absence of the RAI oversight
committee," said Lower House MP Claudio Fava of the Left Ecology
Freedom (SEL) party, whose journalist father Giuseppe was
murdered by the Mafia in 1984.
"It would behoove (RAI oversight committee chair Roberto)
Fico to issue fewer statements and focus more on his
institutional responsibility". Fico is from the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S).
Vespa has defended his decision to interview Riina's son, a
mafia criminal association convict who has recently published a
book about his family life and his relationship with his dad.
RAI Director-General Antonio Campo Dall'Orto also stood by Vespa
and the network.
Former Democratic Party (PD) leader and ex-premier Pier
Luigi Bersani pulled out of an interview on the flagship RAI
talk show last night over the Riina flap, while anti-Mafia
commission chair Rosy Bindi said yesterday if the interview
aired it would confirm "Porta a Porta lends itself to Mafia
denial".
"I hope there is a rethink by RAI," she said, adding she
would have RAI's president and director-general summoned to a
commission hearing if the interview went ahead.
Last summer Porta a Porta sparked a storm of criticism by
interviewing members of the Rome mafia Casamonica clan during a
row over the lavish Godfather-style funeral of boss Vittorio
Casamonica, and allegedly treating them sympathetically.
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