Meloni, journalists and one-way controversies
Which other prime minister did the journalists address with the same harshness reserved for Meloni? Paola Sacchi's note
Goffredo Buccini, Corriere della Sera 's leading signatory, after having premised that "Everything divides me from Gorgia Meloni", very honestly, however, in a tweet he acknowledges that "it is crazy to reproach her for having resented and reacted to the insulting form of a questions (“did he teach you…?”) at the press conference”.
Conclusion of Corsera 's signing: "But which prime minister would we address like this?".
The "old" reporter-political-parliamentary envoy searches her memory, goes back in time and cannot find certain tones towards a prime minister like those used yesterday. Those who asked her if the clash with France "has taught her anything", also citing a tweet from the deputy prime minister, seated next to her, Matteo Salvini, minister of infrastructures, which would have even contributed to unleashing those heavy accusations, bordering on insulting, of the french. Another even advises her to shorten the illustration of the budget maneuver in order to be able to answer more questions. But which prime minister are we addressing like this?
Frankly we can not find precedents. Yet that audience of docile journalists put up with everything, from Giuseppe Conte's crazy hours that slipped into the night, as if they were the historic union negotiations of the 80s, from the classic journalistic headline: negotiation in the night, to the continuous and contradictory announcements of Conte himself, up to certain short and contemptuous phrases by Mario Draghi who at a certain point started talking about "the one who is always on the phone with the Russians", without anyone present having the courage, the professional ethics to ask him: excuse me, president, but who is that? And to follow, because, look premier, that if you are alluding to Salvini, you are a shareholder in your own government. Nothing, silence.
Alberto Ciapparoni, political-parliamentary journalist of Rtl , the largest private radio, dared to ask Conte the famous question about whether he did not consider Domenico Arcuri's resignation appropriate. Conte answered him something like: if you are better than Arcuri, I will keep you in mind… And some of his colleagues looked at him with perplexity, if not disapproval as who knows what he had ventured to ask the Mr. President. Another question from Ciapparoni to Draghi on the inconsistency of certain sentences relating to the effect of vaccines. And two. The colleague near Palazzo Chigi was no longer very likeable, despite the fact that governments and spokesmen had changed.
In short, if the prime ministers are from the left wing, or high technocrats treated with white gloves by the Democratic Party, even if there are other decisive shareholders such as Lega and Forza Italia, they are not insulted with annoying questions, if instead the female premier of center-right we become "badass", almost offensive pounding, like an American confrontation.
Strong with the weak and weak with the strong? But perhaps this is only in the idea of a certain "mainstream" left that is not resigned to the fact that the center-right has won. And that, as Meloni said yesterday, despite the fact that most of the resources have all gone against high bills, despite the "prudence" of "having coverage for each item", as the Economy Minister also explained, the Northern League Giancarlo Giorgetti, moved by the disappearance of Roberto Maroni, "this maneuver already imposes a political vision of this government which is precisely political".
And therefore, extension of the Flat tax which also benefits the middle class, launch of tax relief for companies that hire young people and women, as well as a lot of attention to the poorest families, but also launch of the revision of the citizen's income which will have to be replaced by new measures for those who cannot work and especially the creation of jobs. From the logic of assistance to that of growth and development. Start of the stop of the Fornero law, albeit with a bonus, which established Maroni as Minister of Welfare, as illustrated by Salvini, who was also tried by the grave mourning of the whole League, of an extra 10 percent on the salary of those who, even after 42 years he wants to continue working.
Salvini also observes that this is "an excellent start", which responds to the unitary program of the center-right. And he promises, despite the narration of "fall, fall in a while" of the oppositions overwhelmed and split between them, that "there are 5 years ahead of us to complete the journey". Some angry questions and unusual tones follow, the invocation of the freedom of the press by directors. Freedom just to attack without institutional respect the female prime minister, the first, of the centre-right? How resolute she has a good time in pointing out: "I have seen you less assertive and courageous on other occasions".
The "old" reporter comes to mind Bettino Craxi, who answered dryly to someone who asked him a stupid question: "I don't know and if I knew I wouldn't come and tell someone like you". It can be seen that they never had anything to do with the socialist statesman. Characters, different eras. But, in the meantime, it will also be better understood what Meloni is made of, after having meekly said "yes, sir" even to certain somewhat contemptuous phrases by Draghi on the reduced consumption of air conditioners in blazing heat.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/giornalisti-giorgia-meloni/ on Wed, 23 Nov 2022 08:34:58 +0000.