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A Call to Putin, and Russian TV Changed Its Story A Call to Putin, and Russian TV Changed Its Story
(about 4 hours later)
ROME — When he was prime minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, fighting desperately to win a referendum on which he had staked his job, thought that one particular rally had gone well.ROME — When he was prime minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, fighting desperately to win a referendum on which he had staked his job, thought that one particular rally had gone well.
He was surprised, then, to discover that RT, the international Russian television network with close ties to the Kremlin that was formerly known as Russia Today, had mischaracterized the pro-Renzi event on Oct. 29, 2016, as “Protests against the Italian prime minister ahead of the referendum on the Constitution.”He was surprised, then, to discover that RT, the international Russian television network with close ties to the Kremlin that was formerly known as Russia Today, had mischaracterized the pro-Renzi event on Oct. 29, 2016, as “Protests against the Italian prime minister ahead of the referendum on the Constitution.”
Mr. Renzi’s opponents quickly latched on to the report and shared it widely on social media, prompting the Italian leader to express his displeasure directly to Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president.Mr. Renzi’s opponents quickly latched on to the report and shared it widely on social media, prompting the Italian leader to express his displeasure directly to Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president.
“Does it seem reasonable to you that Russia Today often uses headlines that are not true?” he asked Mr. Putin in a phone call. “Why do they have to have reports today on some protest against me, if that square is full of my people, defending our reform?”“Does it seem reasonable to you that Russia Today often uses headlines that are not true?” he asked Mr. Putin in a phone call. “Why do they have to have reports today on some protest against me, if that square is full of my people, defending our reform?”
Mr. Putin paused and responded: “Matteo, you know that it is not up to me what journalists do. But I’ll try and see if I can help you.”Mr. Putin paused and responded: “Matteo, you know that it is not up to me what journalists do. But I’ll try and see if I can help you.”
Two hours later, the Russian network corrected the headline. Two hours later, the Russian network had corrected the headline.
The exchange, recounted in a new book by Mr. Renzi, “Another Road, Ideas for an Italy of Tomorrow,” shows that weeks before the American election that brought Donald J. Trump to the White House, suspicion of Russian meddling was already high among European nations led by imperiled liberals.The exchange, recounted in a new book by Mr. Renzi, “Another Road, Ideas for an Italy of Tomorrow,” shows that weeks before the American election that brought Donald J. Trump to the White House, suspicion of Russian meddling was already high among European nations led by imperiled liberals.
At the time, Mr. Renzi’s office had denied expressing worry to world leaders about Russian meddling in Italian politics. Russian officials, including Mr. Putin, subsequently denied any meddling, too, and expressed confidence that Russia could work with whoever came out on top, given the traditionally close relations between Italy and Russia.At the time, Mr. Renzi’s office had denied expressing worry to world leaders about Russian meddling in Italian politics. Russian officials, including Mr. Putin, subsequently denied any meddling, too, and expressed confidence that Russia could work with whoever came out on top, given the traditionally close relations between Italy and Russia.
On Tuesday, Anna Belkina, the deputy editor in chief of RT, said the demonstration was mislabeled because of “a technical production error.” She said that “the moment the mistake was caught by the RT editors,” they corrected it “without any outside requests.”
In the book, an excerpt of which was shared with The New York Times before publication, Mr. Renzi makes clear that he did not blame the “Russians or foreign interference” for his eventual loss, saying simply that he had failed to convince enough Italians to vote for his constitutional reforms.In the book, an excerpt of which was shared with The New York Times before publication, Mr. Renzi makes clear that he did not blame the “Russians or foreign interference” for his eventual loss, saying simply that he had failed to convince enough Italians to vote for his constitutional reforms.
But his public acknowledgment of the call he made to Moscow suggests that he believes Mr. Putin could not resist putting a finger on the scale.But his public acknowledgment of the call he made to Moscow suggests that he believes Mr. Putin could not resist putting a finger on the scale.
Since losing the referendum, and resigning as prime minister more than two years ago, Mr. Renzi, once the golden boy of European center-left politics, has struggled to find his place in the political life of a country where the center-left, as in much of Europe, has been vanquished by the populist forces that now run Italy.Since losing the referendum, and resigning as prime minister more than two years ago, Mr. Renzi, once the golden boy of European center-left politics, has struggled to find his place in the political life of a country where the center-left, as in much of Europe, has been vanquished by the populist forces that now run Italy.
He promised to leave politics, but he has not. And his attempts to lead an organized opposition, to hold on to his party’s leadership and to form a center left of gravity have been unsuccessful. He has taught a class at Stanford, hosted a television show about Florence and has now written a book that many see as his latest foray into the fray.He promised to leave politics, but he has not. And his attempts to lead an organized opposition, to hold on to his party’s leadership and to form a center left of gravity have been unsuccessful. He has taught a class at Stanford, hosted a television show about Florence and has now written a book that many see as his latest foray into the fray.
But the Italian left, a good deal of which despises Mr. Renzi, is still in shambles, decimated from within by internecine squabbling and the dominance of Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and the leader of the anti-immigrant League party, who is now the most popular and powerful figure in Italian politics.But the Italian left, a good deal of which despises Mr. Renzi, is still in shambles, decimated from within by internecine squabbling and the dominance of Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and the leader of the anti-immigrant League party, who is now the most popular and powerful figure in Italian politics.
Mr. Renzi had a front-row seat as these populist forces grew, and he saw them more clearly than most Western leaders did. At several points, former President Barack Obama failed to listen to his concerns, former Obama administration officials have acknowledged.Mr. Renzi had a front-row seat as these populist forces grew, and he saw them more clearly than most Western leaders did. At several points, former President Barack Obama failed to listen to his concerns, former Obama administration officials have acknowledged.
Paradoxically, before Mr. Renzi’s phone call to Mr. Putin, Mr. Obama rebuked the Italian prime minister in 2014 for failing to be sufficiently tough on the Russian president.Paradoxically, before Mr. Renzi’s phone call to Mr. Putin, Mr. Obama rebuked the Italian prime minister in 2014 for failing to be sufficiently tough on the Russian president.
As the Obama administration sought a united Western front to apply sanctions on Russia in 2014 for its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Mr. Obama made his case for the measures at a meeting in Wales with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.As the Obama administration sought a united Western front to apply sanctions on Russia in 2014 for its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Mr. Obama made his case for the measures at a meeting in Wales with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Mr. Obama is said to have left the meeting feeling that Mr. Renzi was on board. But when he returned to Washington, he watched with dismay as Mr. Renzi seemed to backslide.Mr. Obama is said to have left the meeting feeling that Mr. Renzi was on board. But when he returned to Washington, he watched with dismay as Mr. Renzi seemed to backslide.
According to several former Obama administration officials and former Italian officials familiar with the conversation, Mr. Obama berated the brash former mayor of Florence, saying this was high-stakes global politics, not a City Council meeting in Florence.According to several former Obama administration officials and former Italian officials familiar with the conversation, Mr. Obama berated the brash former mayor of Florence, saying this was high-stakes global politics, not a City Council meeting in Florence.
“He took his head off,” said one former Obama administration official with knowledge of the call.“He took his head off,” said one former Obama administration official with knowledge of the call.
After that, Mr. Renzi didn’t waver, despite facing mounting pressure over the sanctions. He ultimately earned the respect of Mr. Obama for upholding liberal democratic values, but he also apparently drew the anger of Mr. Putin.After that, Mr. Renzi didn’t waver, despite facing mounting pressure over the sanctions. He ultimately earned the respect of Mr. Obama for upholding liberal democratic values, but he also apparently drew the anger of Mr. Putin.
In his book, Mr. Renzi suggests that the RT episode and the spreading of disinformation on social media raise “questions that a mature democracy needs to ask itself to avoid underestimating a crucial topic in our time: How do we regulate social-media connected phenomena?”In his book, Mr. Renzi suggests that the RT episode and the spreading of disinformation on social media raise “questions that a mature democracy needs to ask itself to avoid underestimating a crucial topic in our time: How do we regulate social-media connected phenomena?”
Those questions are now front and center as European Parliament elections approach in May and another American presidential election looms next year.Those questions are now front and center as European Parliament elections approach in May and another American presidential election looms next year.
Just three years ago, in more innocent (or naïve) times, Mr. Renzi and François Hollande, then president of France, had raised the issue of foreign interference during an April 25, 2016, meeting in Hannover, Germany, with Mr. Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain.Just three years ago, in more innocent (or naïve) times, Mr. Renzi and François Hollande, then president of France, had raised the issue of foreign interference during an April 25, 2016, meeting in Hannover, Germany, with Mr. Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain.
The discussion quickly turned to Russia and the strong suspicion of a connection between Mr. Putin and the National Front party in France of Marine Le Pen, Mr. Renzi writes, confirming previous reports.The discussion quickly turned to Russia and the strong suspicion of a connection between Mr. Putin and the National Front party in France of Marine Le Pen, Mr. Renzi writes, confirming previous reports.
Ms. Merkel was, he writes, “the most skeptical about the importance of ‘fake news.’ ”Ms. Merkel was, he writes, “the most skeptical about the importance of ‘fake news.’ ”
The lone survivor of the populist wave among her peers, Ms. Merkel has since pushed through legislation seeking to contain the spreading of propaganda on Facebook, Mr. Renzi said.The lone survivor of the populist wave among her peers, Ms. Merkel has since pushed through legislation seeking to contain the spreading of propaganda on Facebook, Mr. Renzi said.
He notes that one by one, the representatives of the world’s liberal left fell to populist forces. The U.K. Independence Party helped lead Britain out of the European Union. Mr. Renzi lost his referendum, setting the stage for the rise of the League. Mr. Obama’s heir apparent, Hillary Clinton, lost to Mr. Trump. Mr. Hollande didn’t even bother trying to run again.He notes that one by one, the representatives of the world’s liberal left fell to populist forces. The U.K. Independence Party helped lead Britain out of the European Union. Mr. Renzi lost his referendum, setting the stage for the rise of the League. Mr. Obama’s heir apparent, Hillary Clinton, lost to Mr. Trump. Mr. Hollande didn’t even bother trying to run again.
Unbeknown to them, Mr. Renzi writes, the liberal leaders were sitting “in a hecatomb.”Unbeknown to them, Mr. Renzi writes, the liberal leaders were sitting “in a hecatomb.”