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Politico (2 August 2024)

By Hannah Roberts and Barbara Moens

Giorgia Meloni is picking a fight with Ursula von der Leyen. And it could get ugly.

The Italian prime minister is furious about the European Commission’s annual rule of law report, which expressed concerns about press freedom in Italy and the independence of its public broadcaster, Rai. Meloni has taken legal action against journalists, citing defamation, which is a criminal offense punishable by prison in Italy. And her appointment of loyalists to top jobs at the state broadcaster has led to the departure of some top journalists. 

Since the report was published, Meloni fired off a letter to von der Leyen, the European Commission president, saying the criticisms in the report resulted in “clumsy and specious attacks” by journalists.

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