Disciplining the civil population for verbally expressing their opposition to a fascism sympathizer. I hope we all know what the end goal of this is.
Coming to Project 2025 in the US next year near you
I mean, body shaming isn’t ok…
This is exactly why free speech should be very very close to absolute.
In October last year, a Rome court fined anti-mafia reporter Roberto Saviano €1,000 after he insulted Meloni’s attitude toward migrants on a television show.
Wait, what?
Saviano, who reached worldwide fame with his first book, Gomorrah, and who has established himself as one of the most prominent left-wing intellectuals in Italy, was taken to court by Meloni after calling her “a bastard” over her controversial immigration policies. S
Maybe not the best style but clearly in the context of criticizing her shite politics.
However, worse than the fine is that he apparently lost his spot on TV too.
Roberto is just following a long standing Italian tradition of insults
https://www.vroma.org/vromans/hwalker/VRomaCatullus/043.html
I think it’s fairly common to have some degree of anti-insult laws. However, “bastard” is a pretty mild insult and there’s additional context.
In Germany, there’s Beamtenbeleidigung i.e. insult of a representative of state, like police. But that wouldn’t apply to Meloni as head of state anyway, afaik, it only applies to career officials rather than elected officials.