Berlusconi 'vendetta' takes Italy's Paxman off air again

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Observer

Berlusconi 'vendetta' takes Italy's Paxman off air again
Outspoken anchorman Michele Santoro says the prime minister's influence lies behind his two-week ban by the RAI state TV network
Tom Kington in Rome The Observer, Sunday 17 October 2010

His fans see him as Italy's Jeremy Paxman, an aggressive but penetrating TV anchorman. Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who owns most of the country's private channels and wields indirect control over the state network, RAI, sees him as a dangerous leftie. Meet Michele Santoro, the temporarily banned hero of Italian current affairs broadcasting.

Santoro, who presents Italy's top current affairs show, Annozero, was handed a two-week suspension last week by RAI's managing director, Mauro Masi.

The outspoken broadcaster had accused the RAI management of denying contracts to his co-presenters and appeared to half-utter the Italian equivalent of "go fuck yourself" on air. But his two-show ban, he claims, is to do with a vendetta waged against him by the prime minister, whose speeches Santoro once compared with those of Mussolini.

In his latest show, Santoro addressed Berlusconi about his suspension: "We are the top current affairs show on Italian TV, which is why you – who I have always respected – are so put out. We are not losing, we are strong, and that is a huge problem." The grey-haired presenter then appealed to his audience to sign a petition against his suspension.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/17/michele-santoro-silvio-berlusconi-rai-television

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[TomCADem]

1. Berlusconi Is Italy's Version of Rupert Murdoch - Media Mogul Run Amok

[Jefferson23]

2. Sweet pictures of two thugs. n/t

[Tempest]

3. Il Duce would have been proud

They are two peas in a pod.

[saigon68]

4. AHHH ----The Bring Em On Chimpanzee