Ricardo Levi: “I was wrong about Rovelli but I just wanted to avoid new political controversies”

TURIN «I renew my invitation to Professor Carlo Rovelli to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Frankfurt 2024, to share the beauty of research and the value of knowledge with all of us». After the long day of controversies and positions taken, Ricardo Franco Levi, president of the Publishers Association, but in this case as extraordinary commissioner of the government for Italy, host country at the Frankfurt Fair (2024), cancels in a The letter in which he asked the scientist to renounce the lectio magistralis during the opening ceremony of the event was briefly communicated, evidently thinking of his recent, controversial positions, above all on Ukraine.

What has changed in 24 hours?
«Two things, I would say: on the one hand, confirmation came from several quarters that there was no government pressure in this regard, and therefore that that position was mine alone, and had as its aim the serenity of Italian participation and openness in the face of personalities present.

For example Mattarella?
“I don’t know anything yet. However, I thought that in recent years there was the king for Spain and the president of the republic for Germany. And I was worried that an all-Italian controversy could flare up before the world».

The other element is the invitation addressed to her by the Presidential Committee of the IEA.
“The publishers, in the meeting I asked to hear, shared the reasons for institutional prudence, but also expressed their hope that the conditions for confirming the presence of Professor Rovelli would be met”.

Do you feel defeated?
“I am in a dual situation, as president and as commissioner, and there may be times when the two roles conflict. But I know I respected them both. The line remains that of institutional correctness. Now we await Carlo Rovelli’s response. I really hope, as I wrote, that it is from the perspective of science and sharing”.