Rule reminder
Italian journalism uses a rich set of reporting verbs (verbi di comunicazione / verbi dicendi) that go far beyond 'dire' (to say). Each verb carries a specific nuance: 'dichiarare' (to declare formally), 'affermare' (to state/assert), 'precisare' (to clarify/specify), 'ribadire' (to reiterate/stress again), 'smentire' (to deny/refute), 'ammettere' (to admit), 'sostenere' (to maintain/claim), 'denunciare' (to denounce/report). Choosing the right verb signals the tone and credibility of the source.
A politician repeats a position they have already stated several times before, in response to renewed criticism. The journalist writes: 'Il presidente del Consiglio _____ la sua posizione: nessun aumento delle tasse.' Choose the most appropriate verb.