Italian
Respect for journalists and, more generally, for women should never be called into question, especially when such actions are carried out by a prominent figure in Italian politics like Romano Prodi
ROME. What happened during the presentation of the book The Duty of Hope raises questions not only about the behavior of the former prime minister, but also about the current climate in which politics and information operate.
According to what was shown on the Quarta Repubblica broadcast on Rete4, Prodi, annoyed by a question from the Mediaset journalist Lavinia Orefici, reacted with an irritated tone and, during his response, pulled a lock of her hair. An apparently harmless gesture, but with a strong symbolic value, reminiscent of paternalistic and disrespectful attitudes. The journalist herself commented on the incident comparing it to a teacher pulling the ears of a donkey, thus highlighting the contemptuous and belittling tone with which she was treated.
Orefici’s question concerned a passage from the Manifesto of Ventotene about private property, a current topic as it had been mentioned just a few days earlier by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Prodi’s response was immediately aggressive: “What the hell are you asking me?”. Then, in a growing irritation, he continued with a monologue about history, reaching the incriminated gesture.
During the broadcast, Nicola Porro highlighted how the former prime minister later stated that he had only touched the journalist’s shoulder, a claim that Orefici herself strongly denied.
What is most striking about this episode is the subtext: a man in power who, faced with an uncomfortable question, not only responds rudely, but feels entitled to inappropriate physical contact. The gesture of pulling hair is not just an impolite act, but a symbol of a culture that still struggles to fully recognize the authority and professionalism of female journalists. Would it have been the same if there had been a male journalist instead of Orefici? The answer is not obvious.
In an era where respect for women and information professionals should be a cornerstone of democratic society, episodes like this appear anachronistic and unacceptable. Italy has already witnessed too many episodes of paternalism and bullying in public debate: it is time to demand a change of pace, starting precisely from those who, like Romano Prodi, have played a central role in the country’s history.
If we truly want a healthy and respectful political debate, we need to start with language and actions. And in this case, actions definitely matter.
