Journalists and politicians gathered at Valterino's court to organize Ranucci's candidacy.

A political project around which Valter Lavitola had gathered the elite of Italian journalism.

Sigfrido Ranucci's involvement in politics was never a secret project in the cultural and journalistic circles that frequented Lavitola's restaurant and fishmonger's shop in Rome.

A plan that began a long time ago and whose primary goal was to convince the 'candidate' Ranucci himself and gather around him figures capable of influencing public opinion.

This morning, Valter Lavitola, accused of instigating the "good-for-nothing" attack on the Report host, will appear before investigating judge Iole Moricca for preliminary hearing. And, if he chooses to answer questions, he will also be required to explain the sinister motive that drove the fixer to organize the bombing outside the journalist's home on October 16th.

Today Lavitola before the investigating judge

Beyond the judicial truth, the political project—which later failed miserably—raised political controversy but also undermined the journalistic ethics not only of Ranucci but also of a group of 'notables' who collaborated with an undoubtedly controversial figure, but also with a significant criminal record.

According to the documents from the Rome Prosecutor's Office investigation, he had already laid the groundwork for his plan with Ranucci in October 2024, persistently soliciting him, especially via chat. The former publisher, addressing Ranucci, stated without hesitation: "Berlusconi would have made you co-president," before adding: "Then he would have given you his seat."

In the order, the investigating judge highlights that on October 28, two years ago, "Lavitola persisted with jokes aimed at flattering" the journalist and "convincing him to run in the next general elections, responding to some messages from Ranucci" with the phrase: "The New Year's speech, what will you give, could even do more..." And again: "Valter doesn't always say the wrong things," he writes, "objectively, you would be, if not the only one, one of the very few drinkable leaders in this country."

According to Lavitola, Ranucci was supposed to become the "aggregator" of Campo Largo.

According to Lavitola, Ranucci was supposed to become the political unifier of the center-left and the so-called "broad field." But the entrepreneur wove a network that aimed to avoid the host's professional debacle and transcended political affiliations.

When Ranucci found himself in dire straits due to the center-right's attacks on his program, Lavitola, he urged him not to give up, and on the other, he seemed almost happy if he were fired. In that case, the journalist would have broken the deadlock on his rumored candidacy.

In January 2025, the investigating judge notes, "Ranucci forwarded Lavitola several consecutive messages that were in turn sent to him by an unknown individual." The first reads: "On Wednesday, Ruffo met with Meloni's right-hand man for Report. You're doing everything you can to pass the baton to him. Holy shit, Siegfried." A second anonymous message states that "he's now in bed with all of them. On Wednesday, Donz said that Report must be handed over to him in September because it's 'the right one, and anyway, you're old.'" The third, more conversational message states—as reported by the investigating judge—"I just spoke to one of those lobbyist communicators who gravitate toward politics, and he told me, talking about this and that and about Report, that the attempt will be to appoint that gentleman there and give him a mandate in discontinuity with you."

The plan to nominate "the host friend" for the next elections began to take shape in the early months of 2025. Lavitola told him "that he was planning," according to the documents, "to commission a survey on the popularity of public figures, aimed at assessing the journalist's approval rating, a prerequisite for entering the political arena." His intention was to commission a survey on the popularity of public figures. "As soon as I have some money, I'll commission a survey on the popularity of public figures: do you want to bet on the results?" he wrote to him in a chat.

In early 2026, after the high-profile attack and the media response in Ranucci's favor, Lavitola began dreaming big again about his candidacy. The fixer—convicted in 2013 for attempted extortion of Silvio Berlusconi in connection with the escort affair—had a plan instilled in Ranucci's mind day by day, involving political figures and journalists.

The documents reveal Valter Lavitola's friendly and confidential ties with people who could not fail to be familiar with the background and personality of the fixer who brought together bipartisan politicians and cultural figures around the Ranucci project. To develop the survey questions, Valterino relied on the assistance of journalists like Paolo Mieli, as well as Ranucci himself, and the opinions of Stefano Cappellini, recently appointed editor of La Repubblica.

Cappellini, interviewed by investigators, confirmed that Lavitola had contacted him, revealing the plan and the name of his candidate, but that he had nothing to do with the Salerno fixer's maneuvers. Ranucci himself confirmed the involvement of the new editor of Repubblica, expressing resentment, in messages exchanged with his friend Lavitola, over the journalist's involvement: "But why did you tell him Ranucci? Ranucci will never run," wrote the Report host.

The fixer's goal was likely to generate maximum publicity and sharing for his idea, involving influential figures from the world of culture. The Report host's candidacy was almost certainly the focus of the dinner tables at the Cefalù restaurant, a place often frequented by well-known television personalities and politicians.

Former Northern League member Davico was the poll intermediary.

The documents relating to the investigation into Sigfrido Ranucci, regarding politicians, also mention the role of Michelino Davico, a member of the Northern League, former senator, and former Undersecretary of the Interior in one of the Berlusconi governments. Davico is cited in the documents for his role as an intermediary in a survey regarding the journalist's possible entry into politics.

Davico is not under investigation; his name appears in conversations and documentation acquired by investigators regarding his relationship with Valter Lavitola, to whom he was apparently a friend.

The passage concerns a research commissioned by the Izi company, entitled "Study on the electoral potential, image and political credibility of Sigfrido Ranucci" to evaluate the host's notoriety and his potential electoral potential in the event of a candidacy.

The documents cite documents, technical and financial proposals, and messages exchanged on WhatsApp. In particular, a message from July 6th is cited, accompanied by the file relating to the study prepared for Izi. The documentation also contains a researcher's observations on the formulation of the questionnaire and the need to accurately measure the journalist's spontaneous notoriety.

Within the investigation, the survey plays a crucial role in determining the motive for the attack. It remains unclear what Lavitola's specific objective was and why the former senator was involved in its development.