Culture Minister Dario Franceschini
said Thursday that the Lazio regional administrative court (TAR)
has struck down five of the 20 appointments for top Italian
museums that were recently put out to international selection to
attract the best possible candidates.
"The world has seen Italian museums change in two years and
now the Lazio TAR cancels the appointment of 5 directors,"
Franceschini said via Twitter.
"I'm speechless and that's for the best".
The minister commented after Il Sole 24 Ore broke the news
that five of the appointments has been rejected on the grounds
that the court did not consider there to be the necessary
conditions to open the selection to international candidates.
Later on Thursday Franceschini said that the government will
appeal.
"We'll immediately appeal to (top administrative court) the
Council of State," he said.
"I'm worried about how Italy looks to the rest of the world
and about the practical consequences, because as of today some
museums don't have a director.
"I find it strange that the sentence talks of foreigners,
when in reality they are European directors and this contrasts
with the European Court of Justice and the Council of State.
"I am an experienced lawyer and politician. I know that you
should not comment on sentences but combat them in the right
place". He added that he was astounded that the TAR had
described the procedure as confused.
"The international selection was conducted by an impartial
committee," he said.
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