Roberto Saviano was sentenced in Rome to a fine of 1000 euros for having defamed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The proceedings are linked to a 2020 story when Saviano called the leader of FDI a "bastard" talking about the migrant issue.
The Rome Public Prosecutor's Office had asked for a monetary penalty of 10 thousand euros for the writer.
"Claiming that Giorgia Meloni is persecuting someone is absolutely false." This is what Giorgia Meloni's lawyer, Luca Libra, said in the trial that sees the writer Roberto Saviano accused, for defamation against the premier. "Bastardo is not a criticism but always an insult, even for the dictionary it is always a derogatory term. The right to criticize - he added - even for the Supreme Court cannot go beyond the use of terms and respect for people". "The defendant used excessive, vulgar and aggressive language; It is possible to criticize but no one is above the penal code," he added.
At the end of his speech, the lawyer asked for compensation of 75 thousand euros and a provisional amount of not less than 50 thousand euros.
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