Italian author accuses state broadcaster of censorship of antifascist monologue

The speech by Scurati, pictured, contained a paragraph criticising Italy’s ‘post-fascist’ leaders for not ‘repudiating their neo-fascist past’. Photograph: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

A high-profile Italian author has accused Rai of censorship after his antifascist monologue was abruptly stopped from being aired, in what he called the “definitive demonstration” of alleged attempts by Giorgia Meloni’s government to wield its power over the state broadcaster.

Antonio Scurati was due to read the monologue marking the 25 April national holiday, which celebrates Italy’s liberation from fascism, on the Rai 3 talkshow Chesarà on Saturday night.