Overview

• Matteo Salvini told Rome’s Tribunal he found Roberto Saviano’s 2018 post calling him “minister of crime” offensive and damaging to his reputation
• Roberto Saviano said he would reuse the term coined by Gaetano Salvemini to criticize Salvini as a valid form of political commentary
• Salvini refused to withdraw his lawsuit, arguing that freedom of expression does not cover defamation implying links to organized crime
• Judges have scheduled further testimonies in the coming weeks, with a possible appearance by Saviano himself
• The case underscores the growing use of legal action by Italian politicians to challenge critics in a polarized political environment