Maria Rosaria Boccia on behalf of Ranucci: “Enough of this intrusion into Sigfrido’s private life. Hands off a great man”

Rome. “Sigfrido is in my magic circle,” says Maria Rosaria Boccia, repeating herself (without ever worrying about the ‘janara effect’). “Sigfrido is in my heart, and like everyone else ‘in the circle’, he too, as far as I’m concerned, borders on perfection.” Really. There’s no point, then, in asking whether you’re friends. “Of course we are! We speak often, we see each other, we care deeply for one another. I hold him in the highest regard as a journalist and as a man, and you journalists should stop riding the wave of mudslinging just to get attention.” What, exactly, should we stop doing? “You should stop invading his privacy, that’s all.” Ah. But it’s not as if Sigfrido’s erotic exploits excite us in themselves. It’s just that he was the first to write about them in his book "La scelta". Or not?

“Of course,” says the former Mic correspondent. “And as always, the average Italian, unfortunately, is more passionate about gossip than about economic or political news.” The bare minimum needed to keep us afloat, Maria Rosaria. However – far be it from us to be impertinent – how is it that you, of all people, are defending your private life today? “Perhaps you haven’t been following my case closely enough.” Perhaps. “If you have been following it, you’ll know that I’ve never gone on TV to talk about my personal affairs.” In what sense? “They were my private affairs, of course, but as you’ll know, I’ve always and only ever responded to lies. I’ve always and only ever spoken after others had spoken. And after they’d made such a mess of me that no one in Europe has been more exposed than I have. Not even members of the royal family.” Who, however, suggest never responding or explaining. “Yes. But you know, not all of us have the same thick skin.” That’s true. “In any case, I’ve never spoken about myself, even though for two years you’ve been describing me as a mantis or a runaway.” Let’s leave the past behind us. Are you living peacefully now? “Peaceful is a big word.” The good thing, though, is that you’ve met Sigfrido. “Yes! A wonderful, kind, gentle man! With a grace I’ve rarely seen in his colleagues.” Have you met Valter Lavitola as well? “Never seen him. I don’t go to dinners.” Perhaps you’ll catch up? “I didn’t even know who Lavitola was before this whole affair.” So let’s get back to Ranucci. Is your admiration for Sigfrido reciprocated? “I can say that we’re always in touch and that I stand by him. Especially now that the political establishment is attacking him. Exposing their own incompetence in the process.” What do you mean? “I mean that the political establishment nitpicks at their opponent – that is, him – because they can’t stand up to the confrontation. But fortunately, Sigfrido has always responded through his work. Reporting the news without ever demonising anyone.” Without ever demonising anyone? He speaks of it as if it were a sacred cause. “The point, as I’ve told him, is that I protect those in my inner circle.” All right. But you must admit that “Report” hasn’t always been – as you put it? – wonderful, kind, tactful. At times it’s made a real mess of things – to quote your own words – even of… “Just ask me the question directly!” We wouldn’t want to reopen old wounds and stitches. The question is about the so-called ‘Report method’. Has your friend Ranucci really always been so kind to everyone? “Look, I believe the ‘Report method’ has always helped people understand the true nature of things. And that applies to my investigation too. Beyond that, everyone has their own method. Even in your newspaper – which I don’t like at all – there are writers who are more scathing and more tactful. The same goes for the Report team, where all the journalists are free to work according to their different inclinations.” A saintly man, in short. “It’s not a question of sainthood, I explained to her.” It’s a question of a shamanic circle. “A magic circle, yes.” But what is it? “It’s a very select group of people. And I have one too.” How does it work? “It takes a great deal of effort to get into the circle, but once you’re in, you’re untouchable.” The car bomb theory doesn’t even cross your mind, I imagine. “No. In this affair, Sigfrido is a victim who is handling with masterful composure everything you journalists are putting him through.” Is he calm? “On the surface. But I think he’s suffering because all this talk about his private life is undermining his role as a father and husband.” After ten years at the helm of Report, he must have built up a resistance to it. Or has he? “No. Because Italy is a country built around the man of the house. And today, in the Ranucci household, the roles are reversed. I can assure you it’s not a pleasant situation.”