Media and politics

Pier Silvio Berlusconi: "Ius Scholae is not a priority. Descent into politics? No, for now"

The infrastructure minister replies to the words of Mediaset's number one. Who, on the television side, at the evening presentation of the programme schedules, rejects reality shows with Diletta Leotta and Ilary Blasi

by Andrea Biondi

L’ad di Mfe-Mediaforeurope, Pier Silvio Berlusconi

5' min read

5' min read

The answer comes from China, where the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini is on an institutional visit: on the Ius Scholae 'game closed, topic archived, if anything the left will deal with it in thirty years if they win'.

He knew, Pier Silvio Berlusconi, that they would be heavy words on the subject, his words on Ius Scholae, said during the meeting with journalists on the traditional evening of presentation of Mediaset's programme schedules. "I know that by saying this I am giving Tajani a jab, but it is what I think. It does not seem to me that among the priorities of the Italians is the Ius scholae'. The Mediaset group's number one said he was convinced that the bill 'is not badly formulated', but could 'be improved': in any case, 'people's rights must always be defended, regardless: I learned it from my father'.

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Forza Italia and Matteo Renzi

A judgement that does not, as mentioned, go in the same direction as a party. Which is old, he is asked? 'Honestly, yes'. Certainly there is a political centre, 'which is a prairie and in which Forza Italia is preponderant'. Matteo Renzi would also aspire to cover that space, it is pointed out to him. 'I have great esteem for him, but he has lost political credibility'. As for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the endorsement is clear: 'He is the best Prime Minister in Europe. He is acting, well, as prime minister therefore aiming at the general interest, not his political side'.

Tajani: "On Ius Scholae in tune with Berlusconi"

On the Ius Scholae in the course of the day comes the comment of Fi leader Antonio Tajani himself, who despite everything says he is 'in tune' with the number one of Mfe-Mediaforeurope. 'I have always said,' Tajani stresses, 'that our priority is justice reform, reduction of the tax burden and protection of citizens' health. I have never said that (the Ius Scholae, ndr) was a priority; I have only said what our position is. From this point of view we are in perfect agreement. We will continue to support and defend our ideas. Certainly it is not other parties that decide when, how and where to speak'.

Descent into politics? "No" (for now)

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Politics was a strong topic at the programme schedule presentation evening in Cologno. With Pier Silvio Berlusconi - an evergreen question - who can descend into politics? The door closed, even more firmly than in the past, with respect to a descent into the field because 'I love this company'. Although Pier Silvio Berlusconi doesn't mince words: "My father entered politics at the age of 58. I am 56. Today I have no intention and do not think about politics. Looking to the future I don't rule it out, but just as I don't rule out many other things in my life, I mean that at some point I might say "you know what, a completely new challenge, why not?". But it is silly to talk about it today, because today it has no concreteness'. His real passion, he confesses, lies in his relationship with people, in the crowd baths: 'It overwhelms me, I like it when they stop me, hug me, greet me'.

The (critical) judgement on Mayor Sala

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Could he be the next candidate for mayor of Milan? 'But I don't live in Milan and haven't lived in Milan for a long time, it's common knowledge,' he replies, while not sparing a sharp judgement on mayor Giuseppe Sala. 'In Genoa the centre-right got the candidate wrong' while to win in Milan 'it depends on the candidate, but he has to be in society'. And in any case 'if they lose after Sala they are in a bad way'.

In addition to talking about the opas on Prosiebensat, an open game between now and mid (if not end) August, the focus shifted to the television offer

The evolution of Channel 5

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He does not call it a revolution, but the sign is clear: Pier Silvio Berlusconi wanted to redesign Channel 5 and Mediaset's autumn schedules starting with a strong symbolic gesture, almost sacrilegious for the Biscione's historic audience. After 37 years, the flagship network's season will not open with 'Striscia la Notizia'. In its place 'The Wheel of Fortune' with Gerry Scotti. And it will be just the first of the shake-ups designed for a commercial TV that wants to be less shouty and more contemporary, less 'reality' and more information.

Strip postponed to November

"No revolution, but a profound evolution," he says. Yet, the move of Striscia to November, agreed with Antonio Ricci, points out the Mediaset ad, marks a paradigm shift. "Ricci is working on an even more modern version, but anchored to its tradition," he reassures.

The access prime time will therefore become a field of experimentation. After "The Wheel of Fortune", space will be given to "Sarabanda" (from 21 October with Enrico Papi), while the pre-evening slot will see the alternation between "Avanti un altro" and the novelty Max Giusti, expected for the "strennae". In the second evening, in-depth programmes come into play: "Speciale Tg5" on Saturdays, "Risiko" on Sundays with Federico Rampini, and Bianca Berlinguer on Friday evenings with reportage and investigations, while "È sempre Cartabianca" remains on Rete 4.

Information and insight

The attempt, evident, is to restore centrality to the country's news, in a pop but more informed key. Thus "Pomeriggio 5" goes to Gianluigi Nuzzi, the face of judicial reporting: "Where there is news, that is where we go", says the CEO. Myrta Merlino, on the other hand, remains in the team but in search of a new position: she will be a talk guest, waiting for a project 'just for us and for her'.

Leotta and Blasi's 'ugly' reality shows

Reality shows are not disappearing, but changing skin. "Big Brother" will be more streamlined and entrusted to Simona Ventura, successfully tested on the Island and "discovered" by a number zero that has convinced everyone: "So much for age, if there is one who knows how to do this job, it is her", says Pier Silvio, with the smile of someone who has removed a pebble. In spring, the 'vip' version with Signorini will return, while 'L'Isola dei Famosi' will be handed over to Veronica Gentili.

If the genre 'still has a lot to say', Berlusconi does not spare stoccatisms: 'La Talpa' with Diletta Leotta and 'The Couple' with Ilary Blasi are 'the ugliest programmes I have ever seen'. Words that, said in public, carry weight.

In the sign of continuity, however, the De Filippi universe remains firmly at the centre of the programme schedule: "C'è posta per te", "Amici", "Tu sì que vales" (with Bonolis as juror), "Temptation Island". Silvia Toffanin, urged "with insistence" by her companion, will conduct Verissimo specials in the style of Maurizio Costanzo, with a declared dream: "I would like to leave with the premier as a guest".

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