news Von der Leyen burying report on Italy's press freedom as she seeks Meloni's vote

[Virgos Groove]

Quote

Ursula von der Leyen has sought to slow down an official European Union report criticizing Italy for eroding media freedoms, as she seeks Rome's support for a second term as European Commission president.

 

According to four officials, a Commission investigation highlights a clampdown on free media in Italy since far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office in 2022. The annual report assessing how EU countries respect the rule of law was expected to be approved on July 3 but would be delayed until the new Commission president is appointed, two officials said.

 

The delay is unusual and the risk for von der Leyen is it will seem politically motivated: She is currently seeking the support of EU leaders like Meloni for her bid to secure a second five-year term running the bloc's executive.

Politico

[Virgos Groove]

Another day, another Ursula scandal.  She has to be the worst EU leader yet (which is saying something).

[Bosque]

Press freedom in Italy is doing fine. If anything they are under the biggest threat by non-state actors, especially the Mafia, and the government should do more to protect the press from that violence.

 

The EU should just mostly stay out of issues like this unless the governmental offences are egregious. Their "reports" have never led to any positive change.

[Kitty Kat]

Press freedom in Italy has in fact seen a decline since Meloni assumed office. In the recent press freedom rankings, they dropped five places, down to 46th. Members of Meloni's coalition are trying to buy Italy's second largest news agency (AGI), and the Italian public broadcaster RAI recently went on strike in protest of the Meloni government attempting to "suffocate them in their work" - alongside budget cuts and gag laws that prevent them from reporting. Many centre-left and left wing voices within RAI have left the broadcaster since Meloni's rule began, by either citing unworkable pressure from the government or by having their critical-conservative shows cancelled. 

 

Is the situation in Italy better than in other countries? Yes. Are recent trends concerning, as voiced by the literal workers themselve? Yes. Does the mafia also play a major rule in the lack of press freedom? Absolutely. But without reports documenting and outlining worrying trends, there is less awareness on a pan-European level surrounding the ongoing situation. Reports alone don't tend to do much; nonetheless they are one of the few documentable ways to hold a country to account.

 

Also, Ursula attempting to slow down a report just for her own political gain is nothing short of a shambles, but there's nothing new there with her or the EPP in general.

[Communion]

11 hours ago, Bosque said:

Press freedom in Italy is doing fine. If anything they are under the biggest threat by non-state actors, especially the Mafia, and the government should do more to protect the press from that violence.

 

The EU should just mostly stay out of issues like this unless the governmental offences are egregious. Their "reports" have never led to any positive change.

Oh I just know someone's a fascist if your far-right ass is defending them, whew.