An Italian journalist has been ordered to pay €5,000 in compensation to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for “defamatory” social media posts mocking her height.
In a recent court ruling, Milan-based Giulia Cortese was ordered to pay the Prime Minister €5,000 (£4,210) in damages for defamatory comments posted on X and Facebook.
Ms Cortese was also given a suspended fine of €1,200 for what the judge described as “physically humiliating” Meloni in two separate tweets.
The legal action came after an exchange in which the journalist referred to the Prime Minister as a “little woman” and claimed: “I can’t even look at you.”
Reacting to the verdict, Ms Cortese criticised the Italian government, pointing to a “serious problem with freedom of expression and journalistic dissent”.
An Italian journalist has been ordered to pay Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured) €5,000 in compensation for “defamatory” social media posts mocking her height.
Ms Cortese and Meloni first clashed in October 2021, when the Prime Minister’s far-right Brothers of Italy party was still in opposition, according to a report BBC News.
During that time, Ms Cortese posted a manipulated image on X (formerly known as Twitter), showing Meloni standing in front of a bookshelf with a framed photo of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
Meloni responded to the image on Facebook, calling it “uniquely serious” and announcing his intention to take legal action.
Ms Cortese later removed the image, acknowledging its lack of authenticity but accusing Meloni of orchestrating a “media rampage” against her.
In response, she reiterated the “little woman” comment and said the Facebook post only emphasized her small stature.
Later, in an outside post, she said: “You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2m (3ft 9ins). I can’t even see you.”
Italian media reports that the Prime Minister is 1.63 m (5 ft 3 in).
While Ms Cortese was cleared of any wrongdoing for posting the initial image, the court found her subsequent tweets to be defamatory, ultimately leading to the conviction.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L), who is 1.73m tall, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R), who is 1.60m tall, walk outdoors at the European Political Community (EPC) summit
Meloni (front left) poses with other leaders during a family photograph at the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock in July.
US President Joe Biden, Giorgia Meloni and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pose for a photo during the NATO 75th Anniversary Summit in July
Ms Cortese said in a Facebook post: “You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2m (3ft 9ins). I can’t even see you.”
Responding to the X verdict, Ms Cortese criticised the Italian government for its stance on freedom of expression and journalistic dissent.
He compared the situation to that of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and highlighted the challenges faced by independent journalists in Italy.
He added: “These are difficult times for independent journalists and opinion leaders. Let us hope for better days. We will not give up!”
Ms Cortese, who has the option to appeal the sentence, also expressed her pride in being Italian while condemning what she described as an “atrocious and shameful government”.
Meanwhile, Meloni’s lawyer announced that any damages awarded would be donated to charity.
This comes after undercover footage captured members of far-right leader Meloni’s youth wing performing fascist salutes and singing “Sieg heil” in June.