Mario Monti catches everyone off guard and relaunches on the appointments. The prime minister has chosen two personalities of undisputed professionalism and independence for Rai: for the chairmanship of the television company he called the lady of the Bank of Italy, Anna Maria Tarantola, Lombard, 67 years old, former deputy director general of the Via Nazionale institute with Draghi first and then with Ignazio Visco. For general management of Rai Monti instead called a manager expert in balance sheets and finance: Luigi gubitosi, Neapolitan, 51 years old, country manager of Bank of America-Merrill Lynch after many years in Fiat and then in Wind. Two real Martians at the head of state television.
The reactions of the parties, who fear losing their power over Rai, are baffled. Monti replies: “Will the parties understand? I don't know, I hope so." Of course, as in all appointments, beyond the professionalism of the appointees, there are many aspects that cause discussion and above all the lack of direct knowledge of the world of communication of the new Rai top management, but Monti preferred to favor independence, distance from Palazzo and from deteriorating politics and the urgency of keeping accounts under control.
Appointment of a high profile and of absolute independence also for Agcom, the communications authority, which will have to manage the TV frequencies: Monti has chosen a trusted man as the economist Bocconian Angelo Cardani, a 62-year-old Milanese, already a close collaborator of the prime minister in Brussels.
Finally, Mario Sebastiani, a well-known expert in the sector, has been appointed president of the new Transport Authority.
After the indecent show of the division and subdivision of the seats in the second row of the Authority broadcast in recent days by the parties, the Prime Minister has finally found the strength to move on. Even if there will be protests, controversies and grumbling.
