the case
Ranucci in court seeking reinstatement. Decision postponed
The employment tribunal judge has reserved judgement on the urgent appeal lodged by the former presenter of "Report", who left with his security detail after the hearing without commenting. Rai’s director of in-depth reporting, Corsini, was also present.
Sigfrido Ranucci – photo: LaPresse
Ranucci will have to wait a little longer before finding out whether he will return to presenting Report. This is what emerged from the Civil Court of Rome, Labour Division, where this morning Judge Donatella Casari examined Sigfrido Ranucci’s urgent appeal, lodged a few days ago against the decision by Rai at the end of August to remove him from presenting the famous investigative programme on Channel 3. At the end of the hearing, which lasted around two hours, the judge reserved her decision; therefore, a response to the journalist’s appeal will only be given in the coming hours. If the appeal is upheld, the former presenter must be reinstated. This comes despite the fact that Viale Mazzini has already appointed the next presenters of Report: Claudia Di Pasquale and Daniele Piervincenzi.
the Dreyfus on Via Teulada
Paolo Corsini, Rai’s director of in-depth reporting, was also present at the hearing, but it is understood that he was not called to give evidence: “I came here as a person with knowledge of the facts,” said the Rai executive. At the end of the hearing, Ranucci left the court in a car with his security detail, without making any statements. One of Rai’s lawyers explained that the judge will have to decide whether to hear the company’s submissions. Ranucci’s legal team also stated that they are waiting to see whether Casari will wish to hear from other individuals.
Ranucci had lodged the urgent appeal shortly after Viale Mazzini’s decision to replace him following the Lavitola case. The panel of labour law experts representing Ranucci comprises Professors Franco Focareta and Franco Scarpelli and lawyer Stefano Rossi, who work within the wider legal team at Studio Devitalaw, coordinated by Professor Roberto De Vita.
The legal instrument used by the journalist is based on Article 700 of the Civil Code and is used to obtain swift protection when a right is threatened by imminent and irreparable harm. “I will abide by the court’s decision,” Ranucci had said. “I see a lot of people who feel physical pain at what has happened to me, but I’m fighting for them too. What will become of Report? I believe battles are fought one step at a time; at the moment I have many battles on my hands, including the one with Rai over the ethics committee – these are intense days.”
Later that morning, the editorial team at Rai Parlamento approved Editor-in-Chief Francesca De Martino’s editorial plan by a very large majority, following its rejection last August. There were twenty-five votes in favour and eleven against.