Emiliano Fittipaldi, who works for left-wing every day Domani, and his editor Stefano Feltri stand accused of distorting information in an article final 12 months which advised Meloni had tried to assist a buddy win a authorities contract in the course of the coronavirus pandemic.
Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy occasion was in opposition on the time, rejected the declare and sued.
A choose in Rome dominated final week that the case ought to go to courtroom, Fittipaldi stated. Meloni’s lawyer confirmed the date had been set for July 10, 2024.
“I solely reported true information,” Fittipaldi informed AFP Tuesday, including that he and Domani would proceed to report on the federal government, together with on “thorny” points.
The choice to proceed to trial coincided with the opening day of a courtroom case pitting Meloni towards investigative journalist and anti-mafia creator Roberto Saviano, who’s accused of defamation for an outburst over her stance on migrants.
Saviano, Fittipaldi and Feltri all withstand three years in jail, if convicted.
Watchdogs say such trials are symbolic of a tradition in Italy wherein public figures intimidate reporters with repeated lawsuits, threatening the erosion of a free press.
‘Gigantic energy’
Fittipaldi, identified for revelations of murky affairs inside the Vatican, stated being sued “is the norm” for investigative journalists in Italy, and “fortunately I’ve all the time gained”.
“However it’s the first time that I’ll go on trial towards a main minister, who has a big energy in comparison with an opposition journalist,” he stated.
Meloni took difficulty with Fittipaldi’s article in Domani on an inquiry into the acquisition of masks by the federal government’s Covid-19 commissioner.
The paper stated commissioner Domenico Arcuri informed investigators Meloni had been copied in on an emailed bid for the tender.
It reported Meloni had additionally referred to as Arcuri forward of the emailed bid, and stated she had “put in a very good phrase” for a buddy.
Based on Domani, Meloni confirmed she had made a name however denied making an attempt to affect the bid.
Her authorized swimsuit towards Fittipaldi and Feltri accuses them of “scheming to reach at a deceptive and defamatory headline”, the paper stated.
The bid was made by Fabio Pietrella, a Brothers of Italy MP, it stated.
Meloni’s lawyer, Luca Libra, informed AFP the trial “was an anticipated final result within the gentle of an article skilfully constructed to advance defamatory and baseless allegations”.
In 2017, the most recent obtainable information from the Nationwide Statistics Institute (ISTAT) confirmed practically 9,500 defamation proceedings had been initiated towards journalists in Italy.
Defamation by the media could be punished in Italy with jail sentences from six months to a few years.
However Italy’s Constitutional Courtroom urged lawmakers in 2020 and 2021 to rewrite the laws, saying jail time for such circumstances was unconstitutional and will solely be resorted to in circumstances of “distinctive severity”.