Minister Bonisoli attacks some newspapers: on free Sundays "lies inspired by ignorance or bad faith"

The minister of cultural heritage, Alberto Bonisoli, does not spare comments on the articles in some newspapers (Il Giornale, Avvenire, Il Mattino and Il Giorno) responsible, according to him, for spreading “lies.” The reference is to some articles that appeared yesterday regarding the news (which is actually two months old) of the new plan of gratuities, which Bonisoli had already announced in September. For some newspapers, the minister would have backtracked from his initial intentions to abolish free Sundays: and in fact, in July Bonisoli had declared that free Sundays would be abolished, a purpose later also confirmed in an official note from MiBAC, where it spoke of the “de facto abolition” of free Sundays.

With a post on his Facebook page, published a few minutes ago, the minister claims continuity of his line from the beginning. First introducing the topic, “It’s been months,” Bonisoli writes, “that I’ve been going around Italy saying that the system of Sundays at museums had to be overcome and that free days would be increased. And instead I still read in some newspapers that I would go back on my original idea. And I don’t understand whether these lies are inspired by ignorance or bad faith. #IlGiornale headlined yesterday: ’Bonisoli changes his mind’, #Avvenire spoke of ’backtracking’. #IlMattino and #IlGiorno reported the same concept in the article but fortunately not in the headline. Not to mention many online sites. Separate discourse for the Milan edition of #IlGiorno to which goes the #fakenews oscar of the week. According to this newspaper, my plan for free museums would have been ’rejected’ by the Council of State, which instead only asked to receive a technical elaboration on some points.”

Going into the specifics of free admission, Bonisoli said, “I first mentioned it in the hearing of the joint committees of the House and Senate, in response to questions from parliamentarians, on July 24. I quote the headline of a news agency, the #AdnKronos of 5:27 p.m. that day, which said, ’SUNDAYS AT MUSEUMS REMAIN BUT HAVE TO BE RETHINKED.’ I was saying there that Sundays had to be rethought because, at the request of the directors of the major sites, #Pompeii, #Uffizi, #Colosseum, just to give a few examples, there were very serious problems especially on spring and summer Sundays, but that my intention was that free admission should increase. This thought was reiterated every time I was asked this question because the gratuity, as it was, had critical issues. The first time I spoke in public about the new remodeling, the 20 free Sundays, the greater autonomy of the site directors, the tickets for the 18-25 age group at two euros, was on September 13 on social media. Over two months ago. News that was picked up by agencies and newspapers, print and online.”

And finally, the lunge on the press: “According to some headlines and articles yesterday, however, I have changed my mind. True, I am changing my mind, but not about museums. I am changing my mind about the role of the free press in Italy.”

Minister Bonisoli attacks some newspapers: on free Sundays "lies inspired by ignorance or bad faith"

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.