• Source:JND
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A Milan court has ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni €5,000 (Rs 4.6 Lakh) in damages for mocking her in a social media post, as reported by news agency ANSA and other local media.

Journalist Giulia Cortese also received a suspended fine of €1,200 for an October 2021 Twitter, now X, post, deemed "body-shaming" regarding Meloni's height. Meloni pursued legal action after a social media clash where Cortese posted a photoshopped image of Meloni with the late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background. 

Cortese responded with additional tweets, including one stating, "You don't scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you're only 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall. I can't even see you."

Meloni's height is reported to be between 1.58 m and 1.63 m on various media websites. Cortese has the option to appeal, and Meloni's lawyer mentioned any damages received would be donated to charity.

Reporters Without Borders highlighted a high number of lawsuits against journalists this year, which dropped Italy to 46th place in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Meloni has previously taken journalists to court; last year, a Rome court fined author Roberto Saviano €1,000 plus legal costs for insulting her on TV over her stance on illegal immigration. In May, journalists at Italian state broadcaster RAI went on strike to protest against "suffocating control" by Meloni's government.

This case highlights wider issues about the limits of free speech and the responsibilities of journalists when commenting on public figures. Meloni, who leads Italy's far-right Brothers of Italy party, was in opposition during the incident, underscoring the contentious nature of political dialogue in Italy.