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An Italian court has mandated a journalist to compensate Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with 4.57 lakh (5,000 euros) for ridiculing her on social media, as reported by local outlets.
Journalist Giulia Cortese also received a suspended fine of 1 lakh for body shaming on social media post about Meloni’s height, posted in October 2021 on X (then Twitter).
Earlier, Cortese shared an altered image of her with the late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background. Her subsequent tweets included one implying, “Giorgia Meloni, you don’t intimidate me. You’re merely 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. I can’t even see you.”
However, Cortese has the option to appeal the ruling, and Meloni’s attorney announced that any damages awarded would be donated to charity by the prime minister.
Meloni has previously taken legal action against journalists. Last year, a Rome court imposed a fine on author Roberto Saviano of 1,000 euros plus legal costs for insulting her on a TV show in 2021 regarding her stringent views on illegal immigration.
In May, journalists from the Italian state broadcaster RAI went on strike to protest against the “suffocating control” exerted by Meloni’s government over their work.
Reporters Without Borders highlighted a significant number of lawsuits against journalists this year, resulting in Italy dropping five spots to 46th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
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