Italy’s government has profoundly undermined the rule of law with changes to the judiciary and showed “heavy intolerance to media criticism”, in an emblematic example of Europe’s deepening “democratic recession”, a coalition of civil liberties groups has said.

A report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) said Italy was one of five “dismantlers” – along with Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia – that “intentionally undermine the rule of law in nearly all aspects”.

In Hungary, long classified as an “electoral autocracy”, researchers detected “significant regression” in the rule of law in 2024. Pressure on non-governmental groups and media intensified after the launch of Hungary’s sovereignty protection office, which has broad powers to investigate Hungarians active in public life.

  • thisisbutaname@discuss.tchncs.de
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    7 hours ago

    Right now Meloni is suing Daniele Fabbri, a stand-up comedian, for a satirical video he published in 2021.

    The comedian was commenting on some sexist insults the politician received, saying that it’s possible to criticise a public figure without being misoginistic. Being a comedian he did that by listing some overly childish insults along the lines of “stinky” and such.

    It is very troubling when a prime minister aims to silence dissident voices exercising the protected right to satire, and I find it particularly egregious given said person was basically defending her as a woman even while criticising her as a politician and public figure.

  • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    It’s important to identify these problems, identify the source, and form often complex long term resolutions with minimizing harm as a priority.

    If things continue to escelate, you need to bring Italy in closer, not push them away.

  • mannycalavera@feddit.uk
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    9 hours ago

    Please don’t stop the Bunga Bunga parties, Italy. All will be forgiven. Yours U.d.L.

  • Akesi Seli@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    The Italian government’s undemocratic decisions have effect only in Italy, fortunately, and nobody in Europe has ever cared about what happens to Italian citizens (since they are not even consider properly civilized people). So the rest of EU is safe, this is just a click bait title.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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      5 hours ago

      Wow it’s a good thing Italy never came up with a wildly authoritarian, jingoistic, and militaristic form of government. To me, it sounds like that sort of thing might have been one of the core factors that started an intercontinental military conflict - a “world war”, if you will.

    • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      Because when have internal italian politics ever had repercussions for the rest of Europe…

    • Damage@feddit.it
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      5 hours ago

      Eh, the US at least cared enough to manipulate our politics for decades through covert operations and direct “diplomacy”

      • 1984@lemmy.today
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        6 hours ago

        Who cares about downvotes. You can downvote me too. Go ahead. :)

        Whats important is to say your opinion, even when others dont agree. They dont give rewards for disagreeing though.

        • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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          5 hours ago

          Disagreeing/questioning/skepticism != spewing absolute, manifest nonsense.

          The dividing line is whether it appears to be done in good faith, given the context. This does not pass that test.