Italian writer: Saviano fined for insulting Meloni

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Italian writer
Saviano fined for insulting Meloni

The Italian journalist and writer Roberto Saviano. photo

© Jörg Carstensen/dpa

The author Roberto Saviano has been found guilty by a court because he insulted the politician Giorgia Meloni on a talk show. In the worst case scenario, he would have been threatened with prison.

The Italian writer Roberto Saviano (“Gomorrah”) has been sentenced to a fine of 1,000 euros for insulting the current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The anti-mafia fighter was found guilty by a court in Rome on Thursday. Saviano had repeatedly called the leader of the right-wing far-right party Fratelli d’Italia a “bastard” on a talk show in 2020. Even back then it was about dealing with immigrants. Meloni was still in the opposition at the time.

Saviano justified himself by saying that the term “bastard” was covered by the right to freedom of expression and political criticism. In the worst case scenario, he would have faced three years in prison. The public prosecutor’s office had requested a fine of 10,000 euros. However, the court stuck to the lower limit. Meloni has been at the head of a coalition of three right-wing parties for almost a year.

dpa

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