Ranucci’s urgent appeal to the judge for reinstatement as presenter of Report is not, in the judge’s view, that urgent.

Ranucci’s appeal is not that urgent. Or at least, that is what emerged yesterday at the Civil Court of Rome, Labour Division, mid-afternoon. Judge Donatella Casari heard the urgent appeal lodged by Sigfrido Ranucci on 15 September, in which the journalist strongly criticised the decision taken by Rai’s senior management at the end of August to remove him from presenting "Report". However, after a two-hour hearing, the judge reserved her judgement and the decision was postponed, at least until after 30 September.

As explained to reporters after the hearing by Maurizio Santori, one of the lawyers representing Viale Mazzini, the judge could have ordered an oral hearing – that is, heard further witnesses – or asked the parties to submit further written submissions to summarise and elaborate on their respective positions. In the end, the latter option was chosen: as announced yesterday evening, the parties will have until the end of September to file their written submissions before the judge’s decision. The case is dragging on, and so is the timeline. It is for this reason that the parties have agreed to extend the deadline for the offer made by Rai to the former presenter by a further fifteen days. After removing him from the helm of “Report”, the broadcaster had offered the journalist three options for redeployment, to be decided by 27 September (this Sunday): deputy editor of Rai News 24, of Tg3, or a post as a foreign correspondent.

Yesterday, Ranucci arrived at court at around 11 a.m., wearing jeans and a white shirt. He was accompanied by his legal team, comprising Professors Franco Focareta and Franco Scarpelli and lawyer Stefano Rossi, who practise at the Devitalaw firm, coordinated by Professor Roberto De Vita. No statements were made to the press. During the hearing, both the former presenter and Felice Ventura, head of human resources at Viale Mazzini, answered the judge’s questions. Paolo Corsini, director of Rai Approfondimenti, was also present as a ‘person with knowledge of the facts’, but, as he told reporters on leaving, he was not questioned by the judge. The hearing adjourned at around 1:00 p.m., and the former presenter left in a car with his security detail without making any statements.

Should it be approved, Ranucci’s reinstatement would in all likelihood spark a row. Rai’s top management – not without controversy – has already appointed a new co-presenter for the new series of “Report”. The programme is due to start on 8 November, which, in television terms, is already the day after tomorrow. The journalist’s return to the newsroom could create tensions with the new duo at the helm, Claudia Di Pasquale and Daniele Piervincenzi. It was Piervincenzi himself who, yesterday on “Un giorno da pecora”, voiced his concerns: “If he’s reinstated? I suppose he’ll sack me…”. The atmosphere is far from serene, much like having a sword of Damocles hanging over one’s head.