Andrea Pucci announced as Sanremo co-host; Democratic Party demands explanation

Carlo Conti announced Friday that comedian Andrea Pucci will serve as co-host for the third evening of the Sanremo Music Festival. Pucci, a Milan-based comedian, posted on Instagram announcing his arrival at the Ariston theater, writing "Sanremo... I'm arriving" alongside an image of himself standing nude on a ship's bridge overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

The announcement prompted swift criticism from Democratic Party lawmakers on the parliamentary Broadcasting Oversight Commission. In a statement, the commission members questioned the choice, stating: "Has Sanremo also become TeleMeloni like all of Rai? Rai executives must explain the choice of comedian Pucci, clearly right-wing, fascist and homophobic, already in the news for mocking an entertainment industry figure for being homosexual."

The Democratic Party's objection centers on Pucci's past public statements. According to the party, the comedian's sketches have gone beyond what is considered politically incorrect. Among the examples cited was a past social media post in which Pucci compared Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein to actors Alvaro Vitali and Pippo Franco, using images of the party leader.

The commission's statement alleged that Pucci's remarks have frequently contained homophobic and sexist undertones. The party called for Rai, Italy's public broadcaster, to clarify the decision, writing: "Rai and the government must immediately explain what is happening." The statement also characterized some of Pucci's comedy as "a display of vulgarity mixed with racism."

The announcement also drew negative reaction on social media, with critics citing the comedian's history of controversial statements rather than personal preferences or political sympathies.