Foodstuff Labeling Unification Proposal by Commission for Consistency Among Member States
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the Sanremo Festival tender saga. Yesterday marked the kick-off, with just one contender - Rai putting their hat in the ring. The council, helmed by Mayor Alessandro Mager, has forged a commission to scrutinize Rai's bid, focusing on meeting the specified criteria and technical viability (let's call these "parameters" for a better understanding).
The commission, an all-powerful squad of ladies, consists of Secretary Monica Di Marco, and the head honchos of Finance and Tourism sectors, Cinzia Barilla and Rita Cuffini, respectively. On the agenda, shortly, is the issuance of the decree sealing the commission's existence, giving them the supreme authority to crack open Rai's envelope sent from Rome.
Once this phase concludes and the technicalities are ironed out, we'll dive into the negotiation zone, as per the expression of interest. The players included are Mayor Mager and Tourism Assessor Alessandro Sindoni. Negotiations are set to initiate between Rai and the Municipality, with the ultimate aim of penning down a convention (a fancy way of saying a deal in line with the tender and the Liguria TAR ruling in December).
Rumor has it that these parleys could heat up before February's over. But the question remains, who will speak for Viale Mazzini in these tête-à-têtes with the Mager administration?
Rai's eagerness to be a part of the Festival is fueled by the Festival's stellar performance this year. Data released yesterday confirms Rai's dominance in prime time and throughout the day, making it the only program in the first five months of 2025 to garner over 66% share. This victory overcomes even the Pope's funeral and the new Pontiff's inauguration mass.
Sources claim that Luca Poggi, Rai's new CEO of Rai Pubblicità since January 1, 2025, is playing a crucial role in the festival's organizational aspects. However, the context doesn't point to a direct link between him and the negotiations with the Mager administration.
The commission, led by Secretary Monica Di Marco, Cinzia Barilla from Finance, and Rita Cuffini from Tourism, will soon issue the decree giving them authority to scrutinize Rai's bid for the Sanremo Festival tender. Once the technicalities are settled, negotiations will begin between Rai and the Municipality, focusing on penning down a convention with the aim to secure the Festival, given Rai's dominance in prime time and throughout the day, confirmed by data released yesterday.
