The Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation against the singer of the British rock band Placebo, Brian Molko, for calling the far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “racist and fascist” during a concert in Italy over the weekend.
The 50-year-old American-British artist was performing with his band at the Sonic Park festival in Stupinigi, near Turin on 11 July, when he shouted in front of thousands of spectators: "Giorgia Meloni, you fascist, racist piece of s***, f*** off."
Some municipalities have since stated that they will refuse to allow the group to perform on their territory.
The town of Matera has announced that it is withdrawing its subsidies to the same festival that is due to relocate there, while the mayor of Sassari in Sardinia has indicated that he will not prevent the band from holding its concert on 1 August.
“The municipality of Sassari is not condemning anyone or lecturing anyone. If Placebo commits obscene, vulgar acts, they will answer to the courts, not to the mayor or the region,” said Nanni Campus, who is an independent but considered to be from the same political persuasion as Meloni.
Paola Ambrogio, a senator from the Brothers of Italy party, called it “a slap in the face to Italy and democracy.”
Article 290 of the Italian criminal code punishes with a fine of between €1,000 and €5,000 anyone who “publicly defames the Republic” but also Parliament, the government, the constitutional council, the judiciary or the army.
