Teatro delle Vittorie and Palazzo Labia, the Vigilanza restarts (after 20 months) from Rai's divestment plan

Activity has finally resumed, although it is not yet a full restart. After more than a year and a half of stop, the bureau of the Vigilance Commission unanimously voted to start the discussion on a resolution against the transfer of the Teatro delle Vittorie by RAI and in favour of a revision of the real estate plan, proposed by the PD group leader in the bicameral Stefano Graziano. Despite the initial openness, there was no shortage of polemics during the discussion, and a convergence of the two camps on the text seems far from certain at the moment.

The session resulted in a hearing in a couple of weeks with Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, who expressed the ministry's interest in both the Delle Vittorie and the Palazzo Labia in Venice, and the RAI executives working on the dossier. The release had been decided after a protest by Iv MP Roberto Giachetti, who had launched a hunger strike. "After 19 months, the RAI Supervisory Board met, there was a quorum,' the MP told Un giorno da pecora. 'We have not elected the RAI president, but the fact that at least some things have been unblocked is positive. Let's say that I am not calm, but satisfied'.

In short, on the basic issue that led to the stalemate, i.e. the opposition's lack of support for Simona Agnes's candidature for the presidency, which prompted the centre-right to desert the sessions, there is no progress. Rumours are circulating about the possibility that the majority may change its name to reach an agreement, but there is nothing concrete in this direction. It is more likely that they will go ahead with the current set-up until its expiry in spring next year or that, at most, the government forces will decide to anticipate the renewal of the board of directors, thus guaranteeing themselves a five-year term at the helm of the public television station regardless of how the next legislative elections go, if the new law on governance is approved, which extends the term of office of the board.

As for the resolution on the real estate plan proposed by the PD, Fratelli d'Italia's group leader in the commission, Francesco Filini, expressed a contrary opinion, recalling that the project was also approved in the Rai board of directors by opposition representatives. It is likely, therefore, that at least the exponents of the premier's party will not support the motion, which is expected to go to a vote in two or three weeks. At Italia Viva's request, Minister Giuli, who has publicly expressed the ministry's interest in the Teatro delle Vittorie and Palazzo Labia in Venice, on which the Collegio Romano has the right of pre-emption as they are listed properties, will instead be heard. An informal hearing of representatives of public television is scheduled to take place tomorrow in the Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies "on issues relating to the cultural, historical and artistic value of the Teatro delle Vittorie and other buildings affected by RAI's real estate plan".