Paola Cortellesi unintentionally triggers the back-and-forth between Gennaro Sangiuliano and Dario Francescini. During the day, controversy arose over the ministry’s failure to provide funds for the film ‘There’s Still Tomorrow’, and the senator from the Democratic Party and former Minister of Culture went on the attack: “I thought Paola Cortellesi’s film was splendid , but a minister’s task is only to protect the autonomy of the technical committee and respect its decisions, including those, as in this case, which are not shared. A minister who interferes in the decisions of a committee that provides funding with personal or political considerations commits a crime. Maybe it’s good to remember that. That’s why – continues the Dem exponent – I was amazed and worried when I read Minister Sangiuliano’s statements: ‘If it were up to me it would be at the top of the list of financed works’, and then I added that ‘fortunately’ a new commission will be appointed soon. On the contrary, I am proud that, thanks to the automatic tax credit mechanism introduced by the new cinema law, Paola Cortellesi’s film was also made thanks to a contribution from the ministry of more of 3 million euros”.
But the current Minister of Culture did not like the provocations and silenced Franceschini’s criticism. “I am very grateful to Dario Franceschini, but if there is anyone to whom he should direct his precious suggestions about what is lawful and what is not, about what a minister can do and what he cannot do, it is not the below- signed, but who tried to blame me and the Meloni government for the decision regarding the lack of public financing for Paola Cortellesi’s splendid film. A protest that surprised and worried me and that should have surprised and worried him too, who has headed the Ministry for many years and knows the rules and regulations well. Just as I know them well and I don’t accept lessons from anyone about this.”
“Now I understand the attempt to throw the ball into the stands after the truth came to light, but the facts are stronger than any fake news or political exploitation – continues Sangiuliano -, Franceschini does not play with words and does not try to distort the meaning of what I said. Words that I reiterate because only those who want to engage in political controversy don’t understand, if it were up to me, or if I were among the members of that evaluation committee, I would have placed Cortellesi’s project at the top of my preferences. What is difficult to understand?” “Finally, a Minister certainly cannot interfere in the work of a commission, but he has the duty to choose autonomous, independent and authoritative commissions. And that is exactly what I intend to do”, concluded Sangiuliano.
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
