A tense debate is unfolding in Italy about a new measure in the approval process that blocks publication of any supplementary or partial preventive detention orders until investigations or the preliminary hearing are completed. Critics view it as a further friction between Italian media and the government led by Giorgia Meloni, insisting it curbs the public’s access to information while supporters say it protects the right to a fair defense and the presumption of innocence.
This week, the measure secured congressional approval in Italy with support from the government majority and two centrist opposition parties. It faced opposition from the National Federation of the Press (FSNI) and the Italian College of Journalists, along with several newspapers. The newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano warned it would refuse to comply if the ban went into effect and signaled possible recourse to the European Court of Human Rights.
Marco Travaglio, editor of Il Fatto, argued that arrest warrants are not secret in practice because they are delivered to the person under detention. He warned that the policy would reduce information in the country, hindering the public’s ability to learn about counterterrorism efforts as well as corruption and mafia cases. Senior journalist Sandro Ruotolo, a spokesman for the Democratic Party, agreed with the concern about diminished transparency.
a difficult relationship
Alessandra Constante, secretary of the FSNI, urged President Sergio Mattarella not to sign the law and hinted at upcoming protests. She suggested the measure has little to do with the principle of the presumption of innocence, echoing the College of Journalists in voicing worry about its implications.
The situation is another chapter in a long information warfare dynamic in Italy. Several recent governments, from the controversial era of Silvio Berlusconi to the populist Five Star Movement, have taken steps that provoked strong reactions from media across the Alps.
The current episode under Meloni has been marked by persistent friction since the start of her term. This year the conflict deepened with a surprising shift in public television. Earlier in the year the government appointed figures in leadership roles aligned with its ideological stance. Since then, investigative journalists have voiced increased concerns about press freedom and the independence of editorial staff.
In the spotlight
Domani, a newspaper focused on the topic, has found itself at the center of the debate. Senator Claudio Durigon, a far‑right member affiliated with Meloni’s coalition and currently the Economic Undersecretary, has faced scrutiny. Reports have linked him to questions about a real estate deal in Rome and a compensation claim, amid broader allegations about past affairs connected to organized crime in nearby Latina.
The controversy prompted strong reactions from various MPs who defended Domani as a target of political pressure. Critics argued that the government is using official power to challenge free media and public scrutiny. In the broader European arena, the Greens/Free Alliance members joined calls for protecting press freedoms while condemning any intimidation of journalists. A year earlier Meloni had criticized similar coverage alleging nepotism, illustrating the ongoing tension between political actors and media outlets.
Italy has long drawn close attention to its media environment due to the historical presence of criminal organizations that have sought to intimidate reporters. The Ossigeno Observatory has tracked threats against journalists since 2006, noting thousands of cases through the first half of this year, underscoring the persistent risk faced by information professionals in the country.