Rome court weighs Sigfrido Ranucci appeal against Rai removal from Report

Rome labor court hearing

Judge Donatella Casari of the Rome Labor Court reserved judgment on 25 September 2026 following a two-hour hearing regarding Sigfrido Ranucci's emergency appeal against Rai. The public broadcaster removed Ranucci from his role as host and lead author of the investigative program Report on 28 August 2026. Neither Ranucci nor Rai in-depth director Paolo Corsini testified during the morning session. Following the proceedings, Rai defense attorney Maurizio Santori explained that the judge will determine whether to summon witnesses for oral testimony or set a timetable for written legal briefs. Ranucci departed the courthouse by car without making statements to reporters.

Paolo Corsini spoke briefly with journalists outside the courtroom about his presence at the session.

I came here as a person informed about the facts, if the judge wanted to hear me.

Legal arguments and allegations of political bias

Ranucci's 41-page emergency filing, submitted under Article 700 of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure on 15 September 2026, requests immediate reinstatement and the annulment of the broadcaster's removal decision. The journalist is represented by labor lawyers Franco Focareta, Franco Scarpelli, and Stefano Rossi, operating within the Devitalaw team directed by Roberto De Vita. The petition argues that Rai failed to identify concrete verified facts to justify removing the presenter, asserting that the transfer constitutes unlawful workplace demotion and political discrimination. Rai grounded its 28 August decision on what it described as an objective situation of incompatibility, continuous pressure on editorial staff, and perceptions of opacity, collusion, and interference affecting production impartiality. Ranucci's defense argues that the broadcaster carried out a political mandate after parliamentary majority figures made public demands for his dismissal.

Impending deadlines and programming changes

The emergency legal action centers on two proximate calendar dates that constrain the host's employment options. Rai set a deadline of 27 September 2026 for Ranucci to select one of three alternative internal postings across Tg3, RaiNews, and a role in Cairo. Meanwhile, the new season of Report is scheduled to premiere on Rai3 on 8 November 2026 with new presenters Claudia Di Pasquale and Daniele Piervincenzi. Ranucci originally joined Report as an author in 2006 before taking over as head presenter in 2017 after Milena Gabanelli led the investigative broadcast for 20 years.

Public remarks and dispute background

Ranucci spoke publicly about the controversy on the eve of the hearing during a book presentation in Monreale for his volume Il ritorno della casta. The journalist stated that his legal effort aims to protect the editorial integrity of the investigative team he helped lead across two decades. He also noted that he faces separate administrative disputes with the broadcaster, including proceedings involving Rai's ethics committee. Ranucci reiterated that he would accept the judicial outcome while continuing to dispute the disciplinary measures taken by company management.

Tomorrow in Rome there will be the hearing where my appeal against my removal from hosting Report will be handled, I have no feelings about it, I will abide by what the court says.