His comments on the minister came during a recent public debate.

During the debate at the national festival of the Green-Left Alliance (AVS), Raimo described Valditara as a “sleazy, repressive, dangerous buffoon”.

He also said Valditara was a “target to hit like the Death Star in Star Wars”.

The comments led the Lazio regional education authority to open disciplinary proceedings against Raimo, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the AVS in June’s European elections.

The suspension led to protests by students at Rome’s Archimede high school, where Raimo teaches, with a banner at the entrance reading: “Three-month suspension for an opinion.”

ANSA