There has been controversy over Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin's comments after a conference in the Chamber of Deputies, when he called Vanessa Ricciardi, a journalist from Staffetta Quotidiana, a "bitch" for asking him questions about energy.
The incident occurred at the end of the presentation of a study by Confindustria and ENEA on nuclear power, in the Chamber of Deputies, in the Chamber of Parliamentary Groups of Montecitorio.
In the heat of the moment, Ansa reports, the minister then tried to tone things down and avoid the looming controversy by stating that the nickname was actually meant to be "a compliment."
The reporter's reaction, however, was irritated, with a request for appropriate language in dealing with the press.
The minister's words were immediately condemned by some political figures, followed by an official statement in which Pichetto apologized.
"I wish to apologize to journalist Vanessa Ricciardi for the words I uttered at the end of a meeting with the press," the minister wrote. " I used an inappropriate expression, intended to be joking but understandably perceived as offensive. I deeply regret it: it doesn't reflect my personality or the respect I have for all the women and men in the media, with whom I interact positively every day."
(Unioneonline)
