Italy PM Giorgia Meloni sues historian for calling her ‘neo-Nazi at heart’
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Photograph:( Reuters )
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Giorgia Meloni has also filed a suit against the lead singer of British rock band Placebo, after he called her "racist" and "fascist" during a performance.
Giorgia Meloni has also filed a suit against the lead singer of British rock band Placebo, after he called her "racist" and "fascist" during a performance.
An Italian court has approved a new defamation lawsuit filed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against a historian who referred to her as a "neo-Nazi at heart".
Luciano Canfora, an 81-year-old leftist classicist, made the statement during a school debate in Bari, Italy, in April 2022, prior to Meloni assuming office following a big electoral victory by her party, Brothers of Italy. The trial is scheduled to begin on October 7.
Past instances
Previously, Meloni successfully sued journalist Roberto Saviano for slamming her immigration policies in December 2020, resulting in a suspended fine of $1,063.
She has also filed a lawsuit against the lead singer of the British rock band Placebo for calling her "racist" and "fascist" during a performance in Italy in July 2023.
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Meloni shared a video of Canfora's remarks on Facebook, condemning them as "unacceptable" and akin to "propaganda" targeted at young students.
In anticipation of the court hearing in Bari, Canfora, a former professor renowned in Italy for his expertise in Greek and Latin philology, remained steadfast in his position. He explained that by using the term "neo-Nazi," he intended to evoke certain ideological tendencies rather than directly accusing Meloni of criminal actions.
Canfora pointed to Meloni's own words in her autobiography, where she acknowledged aligning herself with post-war far-right figures like Giorgio Almirante, a co-founder of the now-defunct Italian Social Movement (MSI) and a supporter of Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime.
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Despite this, Meloni stated upon assuming office that she never supported undemocratic regimes, including Fascism.
Many Italian and foreign intellectuals have rallied behind Canfora, with publications like the French newspaper Liberation organising a petition in his support.
(With inputs from agencies)
