POLITICO: Do you think it’s a mistake to allow this type of argument in public debate?
Calenda: No, as a liberal, I believe all viewpoints should be heard, but they need context. For instance, presenting Sachs, I’d say: “A journalist who has often aligned with Russia and recently participated in the Forum of the Future 2050 by Alexander Dugin, an ideologue who condemns the West and supports Russia’s imperial values.” The audience deserves this information.
Similarly, when someone asserts that the Euromaidan protests were CIA-funded, it’s false for two reasons: First, logistically, paying millions of people is implausible; second, Sachs himself countered this in 2014, criticizing Russian imperialism.
There are facts that cannot be ignored. In Italy, TV and newspapers sometimes even feature figures like [Vladimir] Solovyov, who advocates nuclear attacks on Europe, treating it as normal. It’s not.
POLITICO: In some academic or media circles, do you perceive more naivety or political motives when promoting narratives akin to Kremlin propaganda?
Calenda: It’s political; it draws audience attention. Moreover, there’s a neglect in excluding informed voices. Clarity is needed because democracies rely on opinions, but not unchecked statements without challenge. That’s primarily the role of journalists.
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