Rovelli case, Murgia against Levi: “Resign, it’s the only sensible thing to do”

“Resign, it’s the only sensible thing to do.” So the writer Michelle Murgia on Instagram he addresses to Ricaro Levipresident of the Italian publishers’ association, ended up at the center of controversy for his decision (later revisited) to ask Charles Rovelli to “step aside” and not participate for Italy in the Frankfurt Fair. A choice dictated by the confrontation aroused by the scientist during the concert on May 1st in Rome criticizing the defense minister Guido Crosetto. “The fact that he expressed a political criticism was enough to make him skip the conference”, attacks Murgia on social media.

“What happened next? What normally happens in a democracy – he continues – Rovelli published the letter in which he was told to step aside and so many voices were raised to defend freedom of critical speech that in the end the ministers Crosetto and Sangiulianonot quite champions of other people’s free speech, said they had never asked for such a thing.”

At that point Levi in ​​the interview given to Republic turns around and renews the invitation to Rovelli to participate in the Frankfurt fair and explains why he will not resign. “It’s a shame because it’s the only sensible thing to do”, comments Murgia. And she continues: “As a politically exposed author, I don’t feel at all guaranteed by having a man at the top of the IEA willing to sell an intellectual’s right to speak to please those in power”. And she concludes: “As you say Clare Valerio on his editorial” on Republic“it’s a pure question of method”.