Lucrezia Ciotti The historic RAI headquarters on Via Teulada in Rome has recently been at the center of an episode that highlights how conflict in public debate can transcend the boundaries of civil debate. Within a lift, an intimidating message appeared addressed to Bruno Vespa, a historic figure in public service broadcasting. The act, reported to law enforcement and immediately condemned by RAI executives, underscores how political and media tensions can translate into intimidating acts, even within the institutional spheres of journalism.
Bruno Vespa, solidarity from the journalistic and political world
The Unirai union reacted firmly, defining the episode "an intolerable and vile gesture, which has nothing to do with the exchange of ideas and the respect that must always characterize a working environment and a professional community like that of Rai". In a note, the association expressed “the most convinced solidarity with Bruno Vespa" and asked that the authorities “identify those responsible as soon as possible an act that offends not only the person, but also the entire company".
Words of support also came from the political world. The president of the Forza Italia senators, Maurizio Gasparri, said he was close to the journalist “not only for the insulting writing he received, but also for the courage with which he said what needed to be said to the representative of the so-called Flotilla.” On the same line, Maurizio Wolves, president of Noi Moderati and member of the Rai Supervisory Commission, has denounced “the climate of hatred that affects everyone, even journalists”, showing solidarity with Vespa.
Finally, the acting president of Rai, Antonio Marano, stressed that “it is unacceptable that within the company a professional like Bruno Vespa is not respected”, recalling how the host represents a symbol of the values of the Public Service. Marano highlighted that “Rai is based on respect for people, freedom of expression and professionalism" and hoped that full light would be shed on the episode.
"It's very serious," a shocking discovery for Bruno Vespa in the RAI elevator.
In the last few hours, the historical The RAI headquarters on Via Teulada in Rome was the scene of an incident that sparked shock and condemnation. An offensive slogan appeared inside an elevator. “Infamous Wasp”, addressed to the journalist Bruno Vespa. The incident, immediately reported to internal security, led upon opening an investigation by the police forces, charged with identifying the responsible of what has been described as an act of intimidation e intolerance.
The episode comes at a particularly delicate time for Vespa, who is recovering from a heated televised debate on the Palestinian questionThe appearance of the writing, which occurred a few hours before two important interviews with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, immediately provoked the reaction of the Rai top management.
CEO Giampaolo Rossi released an official statement, expressing “firm condemnation for the offensive and infamous writing" and defining what happened “a serious episode that represents an unacceptable form of intimidation and intolerance.” Rossi also reiterated that “such behaviors do not belong to the culture of dialogue and respect” which must characterise every working environment, even more so that of the Public Radio and Television Service.