(Rome) The Italian court has opened an investigation against the singer of the British group Placebo, Brian Molko, who recently called far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on stage a “racist and fascist”, local media reported on Tuesday.
The 50-year-old British-American artist was taking part in the Sonic Park festival in Stupinigi, near Turin on July 11, when he shouted in front of thousands of spectators: “Giorgia Meloni, you fascist, racist shit, fuck you” .
Some municipalities have since made it known that they would refuse to allow the group to perform on their territory. The city of Matera announced that it was withdrawing its subsidies to the same festival which is to relocate there, while the mayor of Sassari in Sardinia told him that he would not prevent the group from holding its concert on 1er august.
“The municipality of Sassari does not condemn anyone and does not lecture anyone. If Placebo commits obscene, vulgar acts, they will answer to justice, not to the mayor or to the region, ”said Nanni Campus, today without a label but nevertheless from the same political movement as Giorgia Meloni.
Paola Ambrogio, senator for the party of Mme Meloni Fratelli d’Italia, castigated “a slap in the face to Italy and democracy”.
Article 290 of the Italian penal code punishes with a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 euros ($1,500 to $7,500) anyone who “publicly defames the Republic” but also Parliament, the government, the constitutional council, justice or the army.