In an Associated Press video published Tuesday by La Stampa, Meloni is heard telling Finnish President Alexander Stubb that US President Donald Trump “likes it, he always likes [taking questions from the media]”.
“I, on the contrary, never want to talk to my press,” she continued.
The barely audible sentences, quoted on the Turin newspaper’s website, were enough for the Italian centre-left opposition to accuse Meloni of being “refractory … to the press and democracy”.
“While Trump commodifies peace,” said Green-Left Alliance (AVS) co-leader Angelo Bonelli, “Giorgia Meloni is shirking the role journalists have in a democracy: that of asking questions and holding the government accountable for its decisions.
“As is her wont, Meloni prefers to speak alone in her videos, like an autocrat resistant to engaging with the press - which plays a fundamental role in any democracy.”
And More Europe leader Riccardo Magi sarcastically awarded Meloni “the Oscar for worst actor” for having “confirmed in an unworthy off-camera moment her total contempt for the press and freedom of information”.
“We understand well that Meloni would like complacent journalists and a sycophantic press,” he added.
“Meloni cannot cope with questions - that is, with democracy,” said Italia Viva (IV) Senator Silvia Fregolent.
“A prime minister who runs away from journalists also runs away from the citizens. She’s anything but a courageous patriot: Meloni only feels safe in recorded monologues and live social media.”
“Giorgia Meloni, like (ex-Communist and Left Democrat former leader and prime minister) Massimo D’Alema, doesn’t like a free press,” said Osvaldo Napoli from Azione. “It’s a conditioned reflex, lasting centuries.”
ANSA
