Rock star to stand trial for labeling Italian PM as 'fascist'
Placebo frontman Brian Molko may face a fine of up to €5,000 for calling Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni a ‘fascist and a racist.’ Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Brian Molko, the lead singer of the rock band Placebo, has been charged with defamation in Italy following a lawsuit from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Reports from various media outlets on Tuesday confirmed the legal action against Molko, who referred to Meloni as a “fascist” during a performance.
Meloni, who heads the national-conservative Brothers of Italy Party, initiated the lawsuit over comments made by the 52-year-old British-American musician in 2023. While performing at the Sonic Park music festival near Turin, Molko described Meloni as a “fascist, racist” and a “piece of s**t.” This prompted charges of “contempt of the institutions” after prosecutors began investigating his remarks in August 2023.
According to reports, Italy’s Justice Ministry has given prosecutors in Turin the green light to proceed with the case. Molko is now facing the possibility of a fine and a summons for trial. Under Italian law, defaming government figures—including those in the parliament, courts, or military—can result in fines up to €5,000.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Carlo Nordio indicated to The Guardian that it is unlikely Molko will face imprisonment, despite public defamation being punishable by up to three years in prison.
Molko's comments were made before an audience of 5,000, a year after Meloni’s party, which has roots in the Italian Socialist movement associated with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, won the 2022 elections. Her anti-immigration policies and anti-LGBTQ stance have drawn criticism from Italian opposition figures as well as political leaders across the EU.
This isn’t the first time Meloni has pursued legal action for defamation. In a previous case, she won a lawsuit against a journalist who was ordered to pay her €5,000 for derogatory remarks made on social media. In another instance in 2023, writer Roberto Saviano was fined €1,000 for referring to Meloni as a “bastard” in regards to her immigration stance.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Meloni, who heads the national-conservative Brothers of Italy Party, initiated the lawsuit over comments made by the 52-year-old British-American musician in 2023. While performing at the Sonic Park music festival near Turin, Molko described Meloni as a “fascist, racist” and a “piece of s**t.” This prompted charges of “contempt of the institutions” after prosecutors began investigating his remarks in August 2023.
According to reports, Italy’s Justice Ministry has given prosecutors in Turin the green light to proceed with the case. Molko is now facing the possibility of a fine and a summons for trial. Under Italian law, defaming government figures—including those in the parliament, courts, or military—can result in fines up to €5,000.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Carlo Nordio indicated to The Guardian that it is unlikely Molko will face imprisonment, despite public defamation being punishable by up to three years in prison.
Molko's comments were made before an audience of 5,000, a year after Meloni’s party, which has roots in the Italian Socialist movement associated with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, won the 2022 elections. Her anti-immigration policies and anti-LGBTQ stance have drawn criticism from Italian opposition figures as well as political leaders across the EU.
This isn’t the first time Meloni has pursued legal action for defamation. In a previous case, she won a lawsuit against a journalist who was ordered to pay her €5,000 for derogatory remarks made on social media. In another instance in 2023, writer Roberto Saviano was fined €1,000 for referring to Meloni as a “bastard” in regards to her immigration stance.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
