The historian and philologist Luciano Canfora, 82 years old, professor emeritus of the University of Bari, left-wing intellectual and commentator, will go to trial in Bari on charges of aggravated defamation against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni , who asked for compensation of 20 thousand EUR. Judge Antonietta Guerra decided it.
The trial will begin on October 7. The story dates back to 11 April 2022, at the time Meloni was leader of the Brothers of Italy and a parliamentarian in opposition to the Draghi government. During a meeting with the students of the Enrico Fermi scientific high school in Bari dedicated to the war in Ukraine, Canfora defined her as "a neo-Nazi at heart", "a poor thing", "treated like a very dangerous lunatic".
The complaint started immediately and the Bari Prosecutor's Office, after having requested the direct summons of the professor, today requested and obtained his indictment . The prime minister has filed a civil claim, also requesting, through the lawyer Luca Libra, compensation for damages of 20 thousand euros . According to the lawyer, in fact, with his words Canfora would have "harmed the honour, decorum and reputation" of Meloni, "attacking his image, as a person and political figure, with gratuitous and unprecedented vulgarity". "The request for compensation - the lawyer writes - is motivated, first of all, by the psychophysical damage suffered and, above all, by the damage to the reputation, honor and image" of Meloni.
The historian's defender, Michele Laforgia, had an opposite opinion, having asked for his client's acquittal "because the fact does not exist, or because it does not constitute a crime, or because in any case it is not punishable for exercising the right of political criticism ". «The prime minister will certainly be called to testify in the courtroom» , he also announced, explaining that, «we knew that, if we had to delve deeper into the topic of "neo-Nazism in the soul”, on the merits it would be necessary to hear the person offended by the crime», « and perhaps acquire an important mass of biographical, bibliographical and autobiographical documents". "I remain convinced - added Laforgia - that a trial for a political judgment for defamation cannot and should not be held, and that it is very inappropriate to do so when from on the other hand there is a state power."
Canfora, professor of Greek and Latin philology at the University of Bari since 1975, has also taught papyrology, Latin literature, Greek and Roman history. Author of essays on ancient and contemporary history, for years he was a member of the Italian Communist Party and then joined the Communist Refoundation.
(Unioneonline/D)
